Maamla Legal Hai: The Flea Market That Was Shut Down

The Flea Market That Was Shut Down looks at the legal and compliance challenges behind organising a public event. The case follows a weekend flea market in Mumbai with vendors, food and drinks, live performances, and brand activations, where having a venue booking was not enough to meet the city’s licensing requirements.

The case study explores the different permissions and licences that can apply to a single event, and the importance of understanding responsibilities across multiple authorities before an event goes live.

Key highlights 

• Event permissions and police approvals
• Municipal and commercial licences
• Alcohol licensing
• Public performance and music licensing
• Compliance responsibilities for vendors

This was presented as a masterclass at CultureCon 2026, exploring the legal and compliance challenges behind organising a public event.

Authors: Rafael Pereira & Manali Patil