New details have emerged from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the chaotic Lionel Messi event in Kolkata, with the arrested main organiser stating the football icon was visibly upset due to unwanted physical contact. The event, held at Salt Lake Stadium on December 13, spiralled into chaos, leading to vandalism and a high-level investigation.
Messi's Discomfort and Security Warnings Ignored
During extended interrogation by the SIT, primary organiser Satadru Dutta disclosed that Lionel Messi "did not like being touched on the back or being hugged". According to a source, Dutta claimed this specific concern had been communicated in advance by the foreign security team responsible for the Argentine superstar's protection.
"Despite repeated public announcements to restrain the crowd, there was no impact. The manner in which Messi was surrounded and embraced was completely unacceptable to the World Cup-winning footballer," Dutta reportedly told investigators during his questioning on Friday.
Visuals from the event showed West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas in close proximity to Messi throughout the programme, with photographs capturing him holding the footballer around the waist. Biswas has faced accusations of using his influence to grant personal acquaintances access to Messi. Amid growing criticism, he has resigned from his ministerial post pending the investigation's completion.
Political Interference and Crowd Control Breakdown
The investigation is also focusing on how a large number of people gained unauthorised access to the ground area. Dutta alleged that while initially only 150 ground passes were issued, this number tripled when a "very influential person" arrived at the stadium and "overpowered him".
"The arrested accused also claimed that once that particular influential person reached the stadium, all the flow-chart for the Messi programme got disturbed and he could not control it," an official told PTI. Police are examining whether this expanded access directly caused the crowd control measures to fail.
Thousands of fans had purchased high-priced tickets but the event descended into disarray as crowds swarmed Messi on the field, making him barely visible from the stands and triggering anger that later resulted in parts of the stadium being vandalised.
Financial Details and SIT Findings
Dutta also provided financial specifics of Messi's India tour to investigators. He stated that Lionel Messi was paid Rs 89 crore for the tour, with an additional Rs 11 crore paid as tax to the Indian government, bringing the total expenditure to Rs 100 crore. Sources indicate 30% of this amount came from sponsors and another 30% from ticket sales.
In a significant development, SIT officers found over Rs 20 crore in the frozen bank accounts of Satadru Dutta. Following raids at his residence on Friday, several documents were seized. "Dutta claimed that the amount in his bank account was the money which he got from selling the tickets for the Messi event in Kolkata and Hyderabad and also from the sponsors. We are verifying his claims," an officer said.
Scope of the SIT Investigation
The West Bengal government formed the SIT, comprising senior IPS officers Piyush Pandey, Javed Shamim, Supratim Sarkar, and Muralidhar, to investigate the vandalism at the event. The team's mandate has expanded to include a thorough probe into the security lapses, access violations, and the roles played by the organisers and officials involved in the incident. The findings continue to unfold as the investigation progresses.
