BENGALURU: British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran was stopped by Bengaluru police while performing an impromptu gig on Church Street on Sunday, as he did not have the required permissions.
The officers, unaware of his identity, intervened and asked him to leave.
As officers tried to escort him away, the singer addressed the crowd, saying, “We have permission to be here, but this policeman is shutting it down. See you later!”
Both the Cubbon Park Police and the Church Street Association denied that permission had been granted.
Sanjay Kumar, president of the Church Street and Rest House Association, defended the police's actions, saying, "Even abroad, performances require permission. Sheeran’s team could have approached us, and we would have arranged a private space in a restaurant or an open venue for Bengaluru to enjoy."
Cubbon Park police further clarified that no one had contacted them for permission to perform on Church Street.
"No one can perform on the footpaths or roads as it causes inconvenience to others. Our team asked them to stop, and when they didn't comply, the officers at the spot unplugged the mic connection," they explained.
TOI reached out to Ed Sheeran's management for a comment, but they did not respond. Sheeran was in Bengaluru as part of his India Tour.
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