There is a glimmer of hope for thousands of football fans in Kolkata who have been waiting for refunds for a cancelled Lionel Messi event. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has taken legal steps to potentially release funds for ticket holders.
Court Move for Fan Refunds
The SIT, formed to probe the fiasco surrounding the much-hyped event at Salt Lake Stadium, has directed its lawyers to approach the Bidhannagar court. They are seeking permission to distribute approximately Rs 19 crore out of the Rs 22 crore seized from the accounts of the main organiser, Satadru Dutta. Dutta is currently in judicial custody.
A source within the state administration, who is also part of the SIT, explained the legal hurdle. "We froze the accounts. Legally, this prevents Dutta or others from using the money, but it does not automatically grant us the right to distribute it to the public," the source said. "Therefore, we have appealed to the court to allow us to release the money to the genuine ticket owners."
The Investigation and Roadblocks
The source revealed that the SIT initially hoped for cooperation from the event organisers. However, their representatives engaged in what was described as bargaining before ultimately backing out of a resolution. This lack of cooperation forced the investigative team to seek judicial intervention.
"We anticipate our move will be challenged, so we are meticulously preparing our evidence and legal arguments," the SIT source added. A senior member of the team confirmed that the decision to go to court was given the green light last month. The member stated that all possible legal scenarios are being studied to prepare for any challenges to this move.
Police investigations have revealed that a total of Rs 19 crore was raised from ticket sales for the Messi event. This figure was established by questioning individuals involved in the sales process, analysing bank transaction documents, and speaking with the online ticket sales partner.
Statements and Outstanding Payments
Investigating officers have already recorded statements from some attendees of the cancelled event. A police officer indicated that more statements could be recorded if necessary as the probe continues.
In a related development, the vice-president of the company responsible for ticket sales for the event disclosed they had agreements with Satadru Dutta for Kolkata, New Delhi, and Mumbai. According to the company, Dutta had received most of the payment but was still owed around Rs 8 crore. The company stated it is willing to pay the remaining amount if formally requested by the SIT, but emphasised that any such payment must be directed to Dutta as per legal protocol.
This legal manoeuvre by the SIT, initiated at the start of the new year, offers the first concrete hope for approximately 34,576 Messi fans who have been seeking refunds since December 13. The final decision now rests with the courts.
