In a significant legal move concerning the controversial Lionel Messi event in Kolkata, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari's legal counsel made a fresh appeal on Tuesday. The plea sought an urgent hearing for his Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition regarding the alleged chaos and public disorder at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium).
Fresh Plea Before the Division Bench
The new prayer was presented before a division bench led by Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul. Adhikari's legal team emphasized the need for immediate judicial intervention, arguing that the incident represented a serious failure in public management and security. The event, part of football legend Lionel Messi's highly publicized 'GOAT' tour, descended into chaos, raising questions about planning and oversight.
Demand for Court-Monitored Probe Over State SIT
Central to Adhikari's petition is a strong objection to the state government's decision to form a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe the incident. The BJP leader has explicitly prayed for a court-monitored investigation instead. His counsel pointed to the "chaos and public disorder" witnessed on the day, which occurred in the presence of various political functionaries and state ministers.
Adhikari's claim challenges the official narrative surrounding the event. He alleged that the program, although touted as a private initiative, was actually conducted with the "active involvement and facilitation" of the state government, which utilized its administrative agencies. This allegation forms the crux of the demand for an independent, judiciary-supervised inquiry to ensure transparency.
Background and Implications
The incident at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium has sparked a major political and administrative debate in West Bengal. The PIL seeks accountability for the lapses that led to the chaotic scenes during an event featuring one of the world's most celebrated athletes. The move to bypass the state-constituted SIT indicates a lack of faith in a government-led probe, setting the stage for a potential legal tussle over the jurisdiction and nature of the investigation.
The court's decision on admitting the plea for an urgent hearing is now awaited. The outcome could have significant repercussions for how large-scale, high-profile events involving private entities and state support are regulated and investigated in the future.
