The British singer, who was in the city between scheduled shows, took to Church Street to surprise fans with a live rendition of “Shape of You.” But his performance was cut short when local authorities intervened, citing a lack of permission for busking.

According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shekhar H Tekkannavar, authorities had previously denied the request for a street performance due to the busy nature of Church Street. Police “received a complaint” from a citizen shortly after Sheeran began playing, leading to the intervention.

Despite the police’s stance, Sheeran claimed on Instagram that they had received prior approval for the performance. “We had permission to busk,” he stated, emphasising that the performance was planned beforehand.

The incident quickly gained traction on social media, with many expressing support for Sheeran and criticizing local authorities for their actions.

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Some users argued that the performance would not have disrupted the area, especially in light of other pressing issues in the city, such as traffic congestion and water scarcity.

Sheeran, a well-known artist, previously held a sold-out concert in Mumbai last year and is scheduled to perform two more shows in the country before heading to China and the UAE.