A police investigation into the violent scenes that marred Lionel Messi's appearance at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium has uncovered a massive and last-minute issuance of unauthorized passes, directly leading to the security breach and subsequent chaos.
Excess Passes and Political Channels
The probe by the Bidhannagar City Police's detective department found that more than 500 extra 'Field of Play' (FOP) passes were issued for the Saturday event, starkly exceeding the initially sanctioned limit of 212. These passes granted holders access to the pitch area.
Furthermore, investigations revealed that approximately 6,000 additional complimentary passes for seats immediately behind the pitch fences were distributed through political channels to individuals seeking a closer view of the Argentine football icon. Sources indicated that many of these passes bore stamps from various government departments.
Last-Minute Distribution and Security Lapse
Authorities discovered that the bulk of these FOP and complimentary passes were handed out at the eleventh hour. Officers are now working to determine the exact final count of extra passes and, crucially, identify who authorized their distribution.
While senior Bidhannagar Police officials claimed unawareness of the final guest list, the investigation found that multiple passes were countersigned by police personnel themselves. This internal contradiction is a key focus of the ongoing probe.
Chaos Ensues After Messi's Early Exit
The consequence of this unchecked access became immediately apparent. As soon as Messi entered the pitch, he was swarmed by a crowd of celebrities and officials wielding these passes. This mob blocked the view for thousands of ticket-holding fans in the stands and began pushing and shoving the footballer for selfies, creating a serious security scare.
This unruly situation prompted Messi to leave the venue much earlier than scheduled. His abrupt departure triggered widespread frustration and anger among the fans, leading to mayhem. Irate spectators began hurling plastic water bottles onto the pitch, despite a clear ban on such items inside the stadium stands.
Police are also investigating how these bottles entered the stadium after midnight, as no permission was granted to sell bottled water inside the venue.
Organizer Questioned, Six Persons Summoned
The main organizer of Lionel Messi's India tour, Satadru Dutta, is in police custody and facing intense questioning. Police officials stated that Dutta has been evasive, claiming his event management company had minimal say in decision-making processes.
As a result, six individuals connected to the event have been summoned for questioning. This group includes employees from Dutta's company, the private security firm hired for the venue, and contractors responsible for water and food supply.
Dutta is being interrogated on several critical points: the total number of tickets sold, the procedure for issuing complimentary passes, the tender process for the event, and whether a vetted security plan for Messi's movement was in place. Police had earlier informed the court that Messi's personal security was handled by central forces and a private agency hired by Dutta's team.
