Four key officials linked to the firm that organised football legend Lionel Messi's controversial three-day tour to Kolkata have recorded their official statements with the Bidhannagar Police. The development came on Tuesday as the investigation into the event's chaotic management and subsequent stadium vandalism deepens.
Police Summons and Official Cooperation
Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh confirmed that all six individuals associated with 'A Satadru Roy Initiative' were summoned for questioning. Four of them complied on Tuesday, submitting detailed statements and cooperating with investigators. The remaining two have requested additional time to appear before the authorities, and their statements will be recorded upon their presentation.
Separate teams from the detective department of Bidhannagar police conducted the questioning. The officers are being examined based on information provided by the firm's proprietor, Satadru Dutta, who was arrested last Saturday. A local court subsequently remanded him to 14 days of police custody on Sunday.
Charges and Event Scrutiny
Dutta faces a slew of charges under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections related to provocation to cause a riot, mischief, arson, assault on public servants, causing grievous hurt, and abetment. Additionally, he has been charged under the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Police are meticulously reconstructing the event's organisation. Preliminary findings reveal that approximately 35,000 tickets were sold online for the match at the Salt Lake Stadium, which has a capacity of around 60,000. The remaining seats were reportedly allocated as complimentary passes and special tickets for sponsors, VIPs, guests, and police personnel.
Roles of the Summoned Officials
The six summoned officials held crucial positions within the event's framework. Among them are two former footballers who acted as project managers and were present in key planning meetings with Satadru Dutta. Another official was tasked with the critical role of coordinating Lionel Messi and his team's schedule and movements during the tour. The remaining three individuals formed part of the core organising team, handling various operational aspects of the high-profile event.
An investigating officer stated that the officials were called primarily to clarify their designated responsibilities and their specific actions on the day the programme was held.
Focus on Access Control and Overpricing
Beyond individual roles, the probe is intensively scrutinising the access control measures at the stadium. Investigators are examining the number of people authorised to enter and the volume of special passes issued. A senior officer highlighted another critical angle, stating, "We are trying to ascertain who permitted prohibited items like water bottles inside the venue and what arrangements the organisers had with vendors, some of whom allegedly sold water at 10 times the original price."
In a related development concerning the vandalism at the Salt Lake stadium on Saturday, police have made an additional arrest. Rupak Mondal of Dhapa was taken into custody, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to six so far. The investigation remains active as authorities piece together the sequence of events that led to the disorder.
