Kolkata: Satadru Dutta, the main organiser of Lionel Messi's chaotic Kolkata event, was granted bail by a city court on Monday after over a month in custody. The Bidhannagar Court in Salt Lake released him on a ₹10,000 bond with two sureties, following two prior rejections of his bail applications.
Dutta was arrested on December 13 at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport after pandemonium erupted at Yuva Bharati Krirangan stadium.
The stadium was overcrowded well before Messi's arrival, with fans eager for a glimpse of the football legend. As Messi entered, crowds surged forward for selfies despite security presence, forcing him to leave the field after just 22 minutes.
Vandalism followed as spectators hurled chairs and bottles onto the pitch, broke gates to storm the field, and damaged galleries and restrooms.
The state government formed a probe committee post-incident. Dutta faced initial 14-day police custody, then judicial custody after a December 28 bail rejection.
The fallout included Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigning and top IPS officers, including DGP Rajeev Kumar, receiving show-cause notices.
Four referees who officiated a prior match at the stadium without IFA or Calcutta Referees' Association permission have been summoned by the Indian Football Association's disciplinary committee. Disciplinary action against them is likely.
(Inputs from IANS)