FIR filed against ex-minister Aroop Biswas over vandalism at Messi event in Kolkata

Kolkata: An FIR has been registered against former West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas in connection with the vandalism and security breach at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan during Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour on December 13, police said on Saturday.

The FIR was lodged at Bidhannagar South police station on the basis of a complaint filed on May 17 by the event’s main organiser, Satadru Dutta. Dutta accused Biswas of offences including black marketing of tickets, extortion, criminal intimidation and cheating under sections 3(5)/308(2)/318(4)/351(2)/61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police said Biswas may be summoned by the Bidhannagar Commissionerate shortly.

Dutta, who shared news of the FIR on social media, alleged that Biswas black marketed about 22,000 tickets for the match and unlawfully entered restricted security zones, disrupting perimeter discipline and endangering Messi. He has also named Trinamool Congress councillor Jui Biswas — Biswas’s sister in law — and former DGP Rajeev Kumar in his complaint and sought prompt action against all three.

The complaint follows intense scrutiny of the Salt Lake Stadium incident, in which crowds swarmed the pitch after Messi’s brief appearance and spectators vandalised property. Dutta, who organised Messi’s Kolkata appearance and was arrested after the chaos, has previously accused then minister Biswas of breaching the footballer’s security and interfering with event management. Dutta was granted bail in January after more than a month in custody.

In the wake of the incident, the state government set up an inquiry panel. Aroop Biswas resigned as sports minister and senior police officers, including Rajeev Kumar, received show cause notices.

Bidhannagar police have recovered the complaint copy and begun investigations, the official added.

(Inputs from IANS)