David Guetta concert cancelled in Bengaluru post mass molestation incident

New Delhi: Popular French DJ David Guetta's concert which was originally scheduled to take place tonight in Bengaluru has been cancelled. Reportedly, the show has been scrapped post the December 31st mass molestation fallout in the city. There are have conflicting claims cited as the reason behind the cancellation of the concert. 

Guetta was scheduled to headline a special gig called "Guetta4Good in Bengaluru" for a charitable cause, kickstarting his four-city tour from here before moving to Mumbai, Hyderabad and New Delhi. 

According to PTI, the organisers have cited law and order issues. "Due to the present law & order situation in Bengaluru following the events that transpired around New Year's Eve, the authorities have recommended against holding the David Guetta concert scheduled today in the city. We at Sunburn tried our very best to make it happen but the authorities understandably are not prepared to take any chances. Hence today's concert unfortunately stands cancelled," Karan Singh, CEO, Sunburn, said in a statement.

The organisers said they hope to "reschedule" the concert if they get permission from the authorities and the artiste but there is no clarity at the moment.

However, senior police officials said there was no law and order issue and permission was denied because of elections to Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) for which security needed to be provided. Also, the organisers approached them only on Jan 10, they said.

Incidents of molestation of several women in full public view on New Year's eve in city's downtown M G Road-Brigade Road here had triggered a national outrage. On late December 31 night, several women were allegedly molested and groped and lewd remarks passed by miscreants, despite the presence of 1,500 police personnel to control the unruly New Year revellers. 

The DJ, 49, is on a four-city tour which was expected to begin from Bangaluru and then move to Mumbai, Hyderabad and New Delhi. 

Disputing the version of the organisers, IGP (Central (Range) Seemant Kumar Singh said there is no law and order issue and the police were approached at the last minute. "There is no law and order issue as you know. We will seek a clarification from the organisers why they have made it a law and order issue," Singh told reporters.

Bengaluru Rural Superintendent of Police Amit Singh cited Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) polls as the reason for denying permission for the concert at a venue in Bengaluru Rural limits, adding, they came at "the last moment." "APMC elections are scheduled in Doddaballapura and Nelamangala. There are about 180 booths for which security has to be provided that's the reason permission has been denied," Singh told PTI.

"They (organisers) have come at the last moment. Theycame on 10th (January) seeking permission. They have not discussed about this in the past. Police personnel have to be deployed for elections, how could we give permission" he asked.

Guetta, immensely popular in the country, had last performed in India in 2012. "Other shows in Mumbai, New Delhi and Hyderabad are on as per schedule," Singh said.

(With PTI inputs)