Kolkata: The main organiser of Lionel Messi’s event in Kolkata, Satadru Dutta, was granted bail by a city court on Monday.
According to court sources, he was released by the Bidhannagar Court in Salt Lake area of Kolkata on a bond of Rs 10,000 and two surety bonds. His bail application had been rejected twice earlier.
Dutta was the main organiser behind bringing Lionel Messi to Kolkata.
After pandemonium at Salt Lake’s Yuva Bharati Krirangan, police arrested him from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport on December 13. He was then sent to police custody for 14 days.
On December 28, his bail application was rejected again after a long hearing, following which he was sent to judicial custody.
Finally, after over a month, he got bail on Monday.
On December 13 last year, Salt Lake Stadium was packed long before Messi’s event began. Spectators were waiting to see their favourite footballer.
As soon as Messi arrived, many people surrounded him, trying to take pictures. Messi’s security guards were also there.
Overall, a chaotic situation prevailed. Spectators complained that they couldn’t even see Messi. Messi left the field within just 22 minutes. After that, vandalism began.
Chairs and bottles were thrown onto the field from the stands. Many spectators broke down the gates and entered the field. Vandalism occurred in the galleries and restrooms of the Yuva Bharati Krirangan.
Following the incident, the state government formed an investigation committee. The event organiser, Satadru Dutta, was arrested.
On Tuesday, Aroop resigned from his position as state Sports Minister while top IPS officers, including DGP Rajeev Kumar, were issued show-cause notices.
Meanwhile, four referees who were involved in a football match at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata just before the Argentine football star Lionel Messi was there, have come under the scanner because of their involvement with the match without seeking prior permission from competent authorities.
The Indian Football Association (IFA), the administering body of football in West Bengal, had summoned the referees on Tuesday before the association’s internal disciplinary committee for explanations on why they participated in the match without seeking prior permission either from the IFA or from the Calcutta Referees’ Association (CRA).
It is learnt that disciplinary action may also be taken against the four referees.
(IANS)
