METALLICA Delhi Concert Organizers Seek Bail

According to HindustanTimes.com, four officials of promoter DNA Networks, which is accused of cheating fans in connection with METALLICA's canceled October 28, 2011 concert in Gurgaon (a suburb of Delhi),India, have listed their bail plea in the Sessions Court, Gurgaon. The plea will be on the ground that it was not an orchestrated fiasco, as alleged and prima facie, there was no case of cheating as DNA has a reputation of organizing international shows successfully.

Police arrested Rajesh Kumar, the general manager of DNA Networks, and his colleagues Umesh Chinara, Ashok Singh and Savio Faleiro on reported fraud charges. The police asked DNA's local bank to freeze its account while the investigation was ongoing (although during preparations, DNA had given the local authorities a bank guarantee of $200,000).

A representative for DNA Networks told Pollstar that the cancelation of METALLICA's performance at the Indian Formula 1 motor racing Grand Prix show was caused by an "unruly" section of the crowd climbing over safety barriers and damaging the stage set.

Karuna Prithvi from the DNA's press department told Pollstar it's difficult to explain what sparked the fuss because "it was all so quick."

Prithvi said the company always has barriers in place for its shows and the problem was caused when fans broke through them.

She said unruly fans "vandalized and destroyed" a lot of stage equipment, which meant it was impossible to fix it and get permission for a new show within 24 hours.

Other media reports, however, claimed fans became unruly when the gates opened several hours later than the scheduled opening times. Still other media reports said fans became angry after DNA sold more tickets than the venue's estimated 30,000 capacity and because the organizers failed to inform ticket holders of the cancelation.

METALLICA issued a statement on its web site, explaining it was "deeply disappointed" about the gig's cancellation. The band added, "We arrived in Delhi on Friday very excited and ready to play our first show ever in India at the F1 Rocks concert. However, immediately at the end of our afternoon press conference at a hotel near the venue, we were notified that there was a serious question as to whether the show could proceed with regard to the safety of the concert audience. And our first and foremost concern is always for the safety of you, the fans."

METALLICA performed on October 30 in Bangalore, India, at the Palace Grounds before an estimated 35,000 fans. METALLICA frontman James Hetfield told the crowd, "India has been a life-changing experience for us."