The Calcutta High Court on Monday dismissed a series of petitions demanding a probe by central agencies like the CBI into the chaotic scenes that marred the Lionel Messi event at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium earlier this month. The court upheld the ongoing investigation by a state-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Court Upholds SIT Probe, Questions 'Passes on Demand'
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen delivered the order after hearing three Public Interest Litigations (PILs). The court stated that investigation is a statutory right of the police and found substance in the state's argument for the SIT. The bench noted it could not be established that SIT members had any personal interest in the event, and thus saw no reason to transfer the probe at this stage.
The court sharply questioned the procedure for issuing high-access passes. "While issuing the close proximity passes, was an enquiry made regarding the requirements? In an event like this, do you not make an independent assessment or do you issue it on demand?" the bench asked.
Revelations in Court: A Breakdown of Pass Distribution
During the hearing, senior counsel Kalyan Banerjee, representing the state, provided a detailed breakdown of pass distribution. He submitted that prime organiser Satadru Dutta had requisitioned 400 passes for movement from the airport to the hotel and stadium. Of these, 27 were close proximity passes and 373 were duty passes.
Additionally, Laltu Das from the organising team sought 12 close proximity passes in the name of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan. The state Intelligence Bureau issued 12 passes for the Chief Minister and other officials. The social media cell received six, and senior Kolkata Police personnel were given 25. In total, 82 close proximity passes were issued.
Banerjee clarified that while a No Objection Certificate (NOC) was granted on November 7, the organisers did not provide a written schedule or celebrity list. He emphasized that carrying water bottles was not permitted, and the throwing of bottles by spectators is under investigation.
Petitioners Allege Scam, Demand Refunds and ED Probe
The petitioners, however, painted a picture of a large-scale scam. Advocate Billwadal Bhattacharya, representing Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, claimed the event was state-sponsored and the organiser was a scapegoat. He alleged that photos with Messi were sold for Rs 10 lakh and controlled by state minister Sujit Bose, causing Messi's 40-minute delay. He also sought directions for ticket refunds.
Another petition, filed by advocate Sabyasachi Chatterjee, challenged the hasty formation of the SIT and sought an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), calling it a potential money laundering case. Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya argued for a central agency probe, stating a state investigation could not be impartial in this "massive scam to loot money from the public."
Counsel for the Satadru Dutta Organisation, Indranil Roy, defended his client, noting that events in Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad went smoothly with NSG security. He argued that in Kolkata, despite announcements, spectators rushed to touch Messi, and even police sought selfies, situations beyond the organiser's control.
The court has directed the West Bengal government and the organisers to file their Affidavit in Opposition within four weeks, with replies to follow two weeks later. The SIT probe will continue, with the court keeping the petitions pending for further review.
