In a significant development following the vandalism at Kolkata's Salt Lake stadium, the Bidhannagar Police made five arrests on Sunday night. The individuals were subsequently sent to seven days of judicial custody by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Bidhannagar.
Who Are The Accused?
Subhropratim Dey and Gaurab Basu, two working professionals pursuing an MBA, were among those detained. Both had purchased tickets for the high-profile football event featuring Lionel Messi. Dey, a resident of South Dinajpur employed in a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), currently lives in a flat in Nagerbazar. Basu, who resides in Jyangra, works for a multinational paint manufacturer. His father is an employee of Indian Railways.
The other three individuals arrested are Sanjay Das, Abhijit Das, and Basudev Das, all spectators from Nabapally in the Sukantanagar area.
Police Allegations and Court Proceedings
During the hearing before ACJM Abhijeet Pakhrin, public prosecutor Sabir Ali presented the police's case. He alleged that the duo of Dey and Basu were actively involved in the vandalism and were identified through CCTV footage from the stadium.
"During interrogation, they admitted being present at the stadium at that time. During searches, pieces of torn flex, used in the stadium, were found on them. They were clearly part of the mob that tore down posters and banners," Ali told the court.
Police sources indicated that investigators also cross-checked vehicle registration numbers to corroborate the involvement of the suspects. The prosecution informed the court that several police personnel sustained injuries during the incident.
Charges and Legal Arguments
The accused have been charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include obstructing a public servant in the discharge of their official duties, using criminal force to deter a public servant, voluntarily causing hurt to a public servant, and causing damage to public property.
Public prosecutor Ali stated, "We have not prayed for their police custody now but can seek it later. More persons are being identified from CCTV footage."
However, the defense lawyers presented a contrasting narrative. Ardhendu Das, the lawyer representing all five accused, argued that their careers are now at stake following the arrest and the court's denial of bail.
"There were nearly 1,00,000 people at the stadium. Many were seen vandalising chairs, breaking speakers, and destroying public property. Five of them are being specifically targeted while cops could not produce corroboratory evidence against them in court," he contended.
Kaushik Das, the lawyer for Sanjay and Abhijit, raised procedural concerns. He claimed his clients were rounded up around 1:35 AM, while the police recorded their arrest time as 10 AM. He also stated that the three from Nabapally work for a private firm and had managed to obtain free tickets as they could not afford the expensive ones.
"Cops showed a CCTV grab to Sanjay where two bikers can be seen. However, cops could not even produce tickets before the court," advocate Kaushik Das added.
The case highlights the fallout from the chaotic scenes at the Salt Lake stadium, with the police continuing their investigation to identify more individuals from the CCTV footage.
