The West Bengal government has taken stern administrative action against top police and sports officials following the violent chaos that erupted during an event featuring global football icon Lionel Messi at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium. Based on a preliminary enquiry report, the state has issued show-cause notices to Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar and Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh Kumar.
High-Level Action and Suspensions
The Chief Secretary's office issued a press statement demanding explanations from the senior officials within 24 hours. The notice to DGP Rajeev Kumar questions why such "mismanagement and lapses" occurred and why proper coordination with stakeholders, including the private organiser, was not ensured for the smooth conduct of the event on Saturday, December 14, 2024. A similar notice was served to Commissioner Mukesh Kumar regarding the role of the Bidhannagar Commissionerate in managing the event at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan (VYBK).
In more direct disciplinary action, departmental proceedings have been initiated against Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Aneesh Sarkar for "reported negligence in duties and responsibilities." He has been placed under suspension pending the completion of the enquiry. The services of Deb Kumar Nandan, the retired CEO of VYBK, have been withdrawn with immediate effect. Principal Secretary of the Youth Affairs and Sports department, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, has also been show-caused.
Enquiry Committee's Preliminary Findings
The three-member enquiry committee, formed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and headed by former Calcutta High Court judge Justice (retd) Ashim Kumar Roy, submitted its preliminary report. The committee detected a significant lack of supervision across the event. Justice Roy highlighted critical lapses, including how food items and water bottles were allowed inside the stadium despite rules prohibiting them.
"After questioning responsible officials, we learned that stalls had been set up inside the stadium. Our preliminary view is that those who were on duty that day should have monitored this," Roy stated at a press conference on Tuesday, December 16. The committee found numerous broken plastic chairs, damaged gates, and bottles of water and soft drinks scattered inside the venue. They even inspected stadium infrastructure, checking if chairs could be easily thrown and whether screws were loose.
The committee has demanded detailed reports from the Bidhannagar Police and the Sports Department within 24 hours. They seek information on who was in charge on the day, the advance planning undertaken, and the complete timeline of arrangements.
Ongoing Investigations and Political Fallout
To ensure a thorough and impartial probe, the state has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising senior police officers from outside the immediate jurisdiction. This includes Peeyush Pandey (Director, Security), Javed Shamim (ADG, Law & Order), Supratim Sarkar (ADG, South Bengal), and Murlidhar Sharma (Commissioner of Police, Barrackpore).
The incident has triggered wider political and judicial responses. Three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) have been filed in the Calcutta High Court seeking investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Meanwhile, Governor C V Ananda Bose has reportedly left for Delhi and is expected to submit a report to the Union Home Ministry with recommendations.
On the ground, Bidhannagar police have arrested the prime organiser, Satadru Dutta, securing 14 days of police custody. Six more individuals were arrested on Monday in connection with the vandalism. The violence erupted after fans grew angry alleging they could not see Messi as he was surrounded by VVIPs and politicians. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier apologised to Messi and the fans on social media, announcing the formation of the enquiry committee.
