CM orders probe into BookMyShow selling Sunburn NYE tickets without state nod

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday directed Cyberabad police commissioner Avinash Mohanty to inquire into the alleged sale of tickets by the BookMyShow portal for the Sunburn music festival on New Year’s Eve, despite organisers yet to seek permission for it.

In a day-long conference with collectors and police chiefs on eradicating the drug menace in the state, Reddy wondered how the online platform had been selling tickets without police permission. “You should ensure that children below 18 years are not allowed to such events. Similarly, those who did not attain the age of 21 years shall not be served liquor anywhere,” he said.

Revanth Reddy also asked state officials not to treat the New Year's Eve events as revenue earners. States like Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka cancelled Sunburn — a three-day music festival that started in the 2000s in Goa — which is accused of spreading a destructive culture and spoiling the careers of youth.

“We saw how Punjab collapsed due to the drug menace and Telangana state is moving fast in that direction,” he said, adding that he had specific leads in this regard and that the police should act tough on his directions.

Stating that, unlike other states, Telangana became a reality after an enlightened and aggressive struggle by the youth, Revanth Reddy said that he would ensure that the fruits of statehood are not lost to drug addiction.

“The police had earlier successfully dealt with Maoist and ISI activities and wiped them out. A similar drive shall be launched to eradicate the drug menace. It’s a no-holds-barred clearance to the police. Don’t entertain traffickers or consumers, however big they are,” Revanth Reddy said.

Revanth Reddy also cautioned the police over an increase in cybercrime with fraudsters moving from traditional methods to digital platforms.