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Black market thrived here too...

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Last Updated 14 February 2011, 13:11 IST
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With tickets in the black market fetching anywhere between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3000, it was clear that there was a once in a blue moon opportunity for the black marketeers to make a killing. The men, some of them with their faces covered, went around and wooed people, who didn’t get tickets. They bargained hard and long and all the tickets were sold at the best price.

People were helpless and fell prey to these rather persistent men who wanted to make some quick money. The word quickly passed around and the line of people waiting to buy tickets in black grew longer. Metrolife did a reality check.

Sarah Jacob and her husband Suneet landed at the venue at 8 am on the last day, hoping to get tickets. They ran around and called as many people as they could but their efforts went in vain. They were forced to settle in for a ticket in black and paid Rs 5,500 after much bargain, “It’s crazy. We came in early but there were no tickets. We didn’t want to go back disappointed so we thought we would buy it in black. One of our friends bought it and we followed suit,” said Sarah.

Anurag Shetty brought his cousins along hoping to buy tickets at the venue. But he was in for a surprise. “We waited in the queue for two hours and were told there were no tickets. So we had no choice but to buy tickets in black. I spent almost Rs 10,000 but I think it was worth the money. The Aero Show doesn’t happen always and we didn’t want to miss it,” said Anurag.

The men who sold the tickets in black refused to talk at first. But when prodded a little, they agreed. Reddy (name changed) bought the Aero Show tickets in bulk.

“I belong to a group of agents who sell tickets in black at every prominent show in the City. We hike the prices according to the demand. We make maximum profit on the last day,” said Reddy.

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(Published 14 February 2011, 13:10 IST)

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