Messi’s Brief Kolkata Visit Triggers Political Fallout: Minister Resigns, Top Officials Face Inquiry
A chaotic scene unfolded at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on December 13, following a fleeting appearance by football icon Lionel Messi, leading to the resignation of West Bengal’s sports minister and a sweeping inquiry implicating top police officials. The fallout from the event, marred by fan unrest and allegations of mismanagement, has ignited a political firestorm in the region.
Fan Disappointment Erupts into Vandalism
Angry fans reacted with outrage after Messi’s unexpectedly short appearance at the stadium, part of his “GOAT (greatest of all time) tour” of India. Disappointment quickly escalated into vandalism, with reports of banners torn down, bottles thrown, and seats ripped up and hurled onto the pitch. The incident occurred despite ticket prices ranging from ₹4,500 to ₹18,000, highlighting the depth of frustration among the 50,000 spectators who had gathered to witness the Argentine superstar.
Minister Resigns Amidst Calls for Impartial Probe
In the wake of the unrest, West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas tendered his resignation to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Biswas, in a handwritten letter, requested to be relieved of his responsibilities to ensure an impartial investigation into the rampage. A Bengal cabinet minister confirmed that Banerjee had accepted Biswas’s request and would oversee the sports department until the inquiries are completed. No official government statement regarding the December 12 resignation was immediately available.
Sweeping Inquiry and High-Level Accountability
The government responded swiftly, announcing show cause notices for several top police officers, including Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar. Bidhannagar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Aneesh Sarkar was suspended. The actions signal a serious attempt to address the security and logistical failures that contributed to the chaos.
Satadru Dutta, the private organizer of Messi’s West Bengal tour, was arrested shortly after the incident and remanded in police custody for two weeks on December 14 by a North 24 Parganas district court. A government order directed the DGP to explain the “mismanagement and lapses” that occurred at the stadium and the lack of coordination with stakeholders, including Dutta. Departmental proceedings were initiated against Sarkar for alleged negligence.
Further show cause notices were issued to Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh Kumar, Principal Secretary of the Sports Department Rajesh Kumar Sinha, and Salt Lake Stadium CEO Debkumar Nandan, all with a 24-hour response deadline. The removal of the DGP for questioning has been described as “unprecedented” by several bureaucrats.
SIT Formed to Investigate Police Role
Acting on the recommendations of a three-member inquiry committee – headed by retired Calcutta High Court judge Asim Kumar Roy, and including Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty – the government established a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT, comprised of four senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers led by Director, Security, Peeyush Pandey, will conduct a “thorough order” into the events of December 13.
According to Chief Secretary Pant, the SIT’s primary focus will be to investigate the role of the police. The preliminary report raised concerns about the police’s handling of the event and the unauthorized sale of bottled water inside the stadium, violating safety regulations. “Our preliminary inquiry showed that the responsibility for this violation lies with those who were on duty,” the retired judge stated to reporters on Tuesday.
Political Reactions and Allegations of a Cover-Up
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized the government’s response, alleging that the disciplinary actions are merely a superficial attempt to deflect blame. “The show cause letters and the minister’s resignation are an eyewash,” asserted BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, calling for the arrest of Biswas and Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose, who was also present at the event. Kunal Ghosh refuted these claims, stating that the Chief Minister had acted with “Raj Dharma” by taking action against the officers and that Biswas had voluntarily resigned, accepting responsibility.
A Brief Visit Amidst Security Concerns
Messi’s visit, part of a promotional tour encompassing Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, was initially marked by security concerns. He virtually unveiled a 70ft statue of himself before traveling to the Salt Lake Stadium, where fans had been waiting since approximately 4 am. Trouble began roughly 15 minutes after Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul, arrived at the stadium around 11:30 am. The players were quickly surrounded by politicians, police, VIPs, and their entourages, obstructing the view of many spectators. Frustrated fans repeatedly chanted, “We want to see Messi.”
Mamata Banerjee issued an apology within hours of the incident and immediately ordered an inquiry. The incident underscores the challenges of managing large-scale events and the importance of prioritizing fan experience alongside security considerations.
