Kolkata: The West Bengal Police on Tuesday sought additional time from the Calcutta High Court to submit a report on the alleged mismanagement and chaos surrounding Argentine football icon Lionel Messi’s appearance at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium in December last year.
Calcutta High Court’s single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya scheduled August 11 for the next hearing in the matter, and the report is to be filed by the Bidhannagar City Police, under whose jurisdiction the Salt Lake Stadium falls.
The state government’s counsel informed the court that recent reshuffles within the Bidhannagar City Police had delayed the preparation of the report, necessitating additional time.
The controversy stems from Messi’s visit to the stadium on December 13 last year, which was marred by allegations of poor crowd management and organisational lapses. Several attendees claimed they were unable to catch a glimpse of the football legend despite purchasing expensive tickets. Following Messi’s departure, sections of the crowd allegedly vandalised parts of the venue.
The issue later reached the Calcutta High Court, which ordered an independent probe into the incident and directed a committee to examine allegations surrounding the event. Former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas has come under scrutiny in the case, although the court has granted him interim protection from coercive action, including arrest.
Event organiser Satadru Dutta, who was arrested during the initial investigation and later released on bail, accused Aroop Biswas of violating protocol by staying in close proximity to Messi throughout the programme. He also alleged that the presence of influential individuals on the field obstructed the view of paying spectators.
Two separate cases were registered at Bidhannagar South Police Station following the incident. While one led to the arrest of Satadru Dutta, the other resulted in several arrests over allegations of vandalism and arson.
Following a change in the political dispensation in the state, Aroop Biswas approached the Calcutta High Court seeking protection from arrest. The court subsequently directed that a fresh and independent inquiry be conducted and an investigation committee was constituted accordingly.
(IANS)
