Zomato faces cyber cell probe over ticketing practices for Honey Singh concert

Recently, BookMyShow faced similar criticism over the resale of tickets for the Coldplay concert, which took place in January 2025

Zomato is under investigation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell for allegedly selling tickets for Honey Singh’s concert without including buyer information. Authorities have raised concerns that the omission of buyer names on tickets could contribute to black market ticket sales and pose security risks at the high-profile event. The Cyber Cell is now seeking an explanation from Zomato regarding its ticketing practices and whether this breach could violate existing regulations.

The inquiry follows the sale of tickets for Singh’s “Millionaire India Tour,” which began in Mumbai on February 22. The Cyber Cell's investigation aims to determine whether the lack of buyer identification could have facilitated illegal reselling or posed other security issues, particularly during major events. This probe comes amid increasing scrutiny of ticket sales across various platforms, as officials intensify efforts to combat fraudulent resale and ensure fair access to tickets for consumers.

Growing ticket scalping spurs new regulations

This probe into Zomato’s practices comes in the wake of broader concerns surrounding black market ticketing. Both Zomato and its competitor, BookMyShow, have been pressured to follow a new directive issued by the Cyber Cell, which mandates that all tickets for high-demand events display the purchaser’s name. The goal is to prevent ticket scalping, where individuals hoard large quantities of tickets and resell them at inflated prices.

Yashasvi Yadav, Chief of the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, emphasized the increasing issue of ticket hoarding, particularly for events like concerts, where resellers can take advantage of limited ticket availability. The Cyber Cell has announced that future high-demand event tickets must include buyer names and that attendees will need to present a government-issued ID—such as Aadhaar, PAN card, or driver’s license—matching the name on their ticket to gain entry.

Meanwhile, Zomato has responded to the allegations by denying any wrongdoing. The platform also insisted that every M-ticket issued through its District app for the Honey Singh concert included the buyer's name, directly addressing concerns raised by the Cyber Cell.

Ticket resale scandals spark investigation

Recently, BookMyShow faced similar criticism over the resale of tickets for the Coldplay concert, which took place in January 2025. Allegations surfaced that the platform had blocked genuine users, allowing third-party resellers to profit by selling tickets at prices as high as ₹3 lakh, even though the original price was ₹2,500. The Maharashtra Cyber Cell is currently investigating whether Zomato and BookMyShow have failed to prevent such illegal resale practices.

As part of ongoing efforts to curb black marketing, the Maharashtra Cyber Cell is working on a white paper to explore technological and regulatory reforms in the ticketing industry. The document will offer recommendations to ensure transparency and consumer protection in event ticket sales across the state. With the investigation into Zomato's practices underway, the future of digital ticket sales in Maharashtra remains under close scrutiny.

Also Read: Maharashtra to set up New Cyber Lab for National Security