The Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Kolkata has intensified its probe into the financial dealings behind the chaotic event featuring football icon Lionel Messi at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13. In a significant move, investigators on Wednesday brought the main event organiser, Satadru Dutta, face-to-face with a vice-president of the online ticketing platform that sold passes for the show.
Conflicting Claims Over Stalled Refunds
The core of the interrogation revolved around the stalled refund process, which has left thousands of fans frustrated and out of pocket. During the closed-door questioning, Satadru Dutta maintained that he could only initiate refunds after receiving the proceeds from ticket sales, claiming the money was yet to be released to him by the ticketing agency.
However, the vice-president of the ticketing platform firmly denied this claim. The official told police that, as per the contract, a large sum had already been paid to the organiser. These starkly conflicting versions have sharpened the SIT's focus on tracing the complete money trail related to the event, which descended into vandalism after fans were denied even a glimpse of Messi.
Sponsors Under Scanner, Mobiles Seized
Broadening the scope of the financial investigation, the SIT has also issued notices to senior officials of six corporate sponsors associated with the event. They have been asked to appear before investigators within the weekend. The sponsors are being questioned to determine the total funds mobilised by Dutta and to assess how the sponsorship money was utilised.
"We have to establish the complete financial picture — ticket revenue, sponsorship amounts and expenses — before any accountability can be fixed," a senior police officer involved in the probe stated. In a parallel action, police have seized three mobile phones belonging to Satadru Dutta to retrieve digital evidence that could shed light on his communications with sponsors, vendors, and the ticketing platform.
Focus on Verified Buyer List for Refunds
The investigation into the ticketing process had begun last week when the SIT questioned three senior officials of the online ticketing agency. They sought detailed records of ticket sales, revenue collected, and, crucially, verified buyer information. Access to a verified purchaser list is seen as critical to ensure that refunds, when processed, reach the genuine buyers and not fraudulent claimants.
Police have demanded buyers' phone numbers and email IDs from the platform to verify claims and facilitate the refund process. Officers indicated that the next major course of action in the case is contingent upon obtaining this verified list and conclusively establishing the exact amount of money collected from ticket sales.
The SIT's multi-pronged approach, targeting the organiser, ticketing partners, and sponsors, underscores the complexity of unravelling the financial mismanagement that led to the high-profile debacle at Salt Lake Stadium.
