Messi’s team blames former Bengal minister for GOAT tour chaos
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Kolkata: Lionel Messi’s team on Wednesday blamed former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas for the chaos and alleged mismanagement during the football star’s ‘GOAT India Tour’ event at Salt Lake’s Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata in December last year.
A member of Messi’s team, who had accompanied the Argentine footballer as an advisor during the India tour and was present on the field during the event, sent an email complaint to Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Tripurari Atharv, according to a senior police officer.
The complaint stated that the disruption at the stadium began after the then Sports Minister Aroop Biswas entered the field.
According to the complaint, Biswas repeatedly touched Messi’s shoulder and waist while taking photographs with him. It also alleged that several people entered the field along with the minister despite not having permission to be there.
The complaint further claimed that only three photographers were supposed to be present on the field, but around 40 people entered the area. The situation reportedly left Messi concerned about his safety.
It added that after the incident, Messi was unable to continue with the programme and had to leave the field.
Messi’s team also stated that the incident was not the responsibility of event organiser Satadru Dutta, who was the main organiser of the footballer’s India tour. The team said Dutta was not responsible for Messi’s early departure from Yuva Bharati Krirangan.
After the incident, Dutta told media persons, “This will definitely help in the investigation.”
Dutta, who was arrested following the mismanagement at Yuva Bharati Krirangan on December 13 last year, had earlier levelled several allegations against former minister Aroop Biswas over the chaos during Messi’s Kolkata visit.
After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government came to power in West Bengal, Dutta held Biswas responsible for the alleged security lapse during the event and filed a complaint against him with the Bidhannagar Police.
On Tuesday, Dutta approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the protection granted to Aroop Biswas in the case.
Dutta’s lawyer Arindam Jana brought the matter before the division bench of the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. Court sources said the division bench allowed him to file a case, with the hearing likely to take place later this week.
Following an FIR registered against him, Aroop Biswas had filed a protection plea before the court to avoid arrest. Calcutta High Court Justice Saugata Bhattacharya granted him protection with certain conditions, including cooperation with the investigation.
The court had also ordered an independent and impartial probe by the Bidhannagar Police Commissioner.
Challenging the single bench order, Dutta moved the division bench of the Calcutta High Court.
Dutta had also claimed that 70,000 tickets were printed for Messi’s event at the Yuva Bharati Sports Complex in December last year. He alleged that the then Sports Minister took 22,000 tickets and distributed them among acquaintances or sold them by using his influence.
Apart from this, Dutta blamed Aroop Biswas for the chaos at the event.
Police issued notices to Biswas for questioning in connection with the allegations. He avoided appearing the first time citing health reasons, after which further notices were issued. However, he has not appeared for questioning so far.
Meanwhile, Messi is currently playing in the FIFA World Cup in the United States and scored a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening match.
With IANS inputs
