Bengaluru Police Denies Granting Ed Sheeran Permission for Street Performance Amid Traffic Concerns

Bengaluru police have denied granting permission to global pop star Ed Sheeran for a street performance at Church Street, citing heavy traffic and congestion in the area. The incident, which took place on Sunday, went viral on social media after a police officer was seen interrupting Sheeran's performance and unplugging his musical instruments.

Clearing the air, Bengaluru police clarified that permission had not been given for the performance. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Central Bengaluru, Shekar T Tekkannanavar, stated, "A member among the event organisers came to meet me to seek permission for the streetside performance at Church Street. I refused to give permission because Church Street gets very crowded. That is the reason he was asked to vacate the place," as quoted by news agency ANI.

However, Sheeran’s statement on the matter contradicts the police’s claim. Addressing the situation on his Instagram story, the singer wrote, "We had permission to busk btw, hence us playing in that exact spot, was planned out before, it wasn't just us randomly turning up. All good though. See ya at the show tonight x."

The video of the incident, which shows a police officer stopping Sheeran's performance without recognizing him, has sparked widespread reactions online. Many users have labeled the situation as "embarrassing" for the city.

Sheeran is currently in India as part of his ongoing Mathematics Tour. He performed in Bengaluru on both Saturday and Sunday due to overwhelming ticket demand. Additionally, he recently collaborated with Indian musician and singer Armaan Malik for a performance in Hyderabad. The singer is also set to perform in Pune, Shillong, and Delhi NCR as part of his India tour.

Despite the controversy, Sheeran’s concert in Bengaluru continued as scheduled, drawing thousands of fans who were eager to witness the global music sensation live.