Former sports minister Aroop Biswas made his first public appearance in nearly six weeks on Thursday, arriving at Bidhannagar South police station around 10 am after skipping three summonses and facing online trolling for failing to appear before investigators probing alleged irregularities in Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour. He was interrogated for three-and-a-half hours and asked to report again on Monday.
Incident-Free Police Visit but Turmoil Outside
Though his visit to the police station was incident-free, Biswas faced taunts and threats of being pelted with eggs after reaching his lawyer Gopal Halder's chamber in Alipore. Before that, he drove around the city for about two hours to shake off journalists following him. As news of his presence spread, a group of lawyers gathered outside Halder's chamber carrying eggs. Biswas stayed cooped up for close to three hours with lights turned off while protesters banged on the door. Another group of lawyers tried to persuade the protesters to back off, leading to a scuffle between the two groups. Police intervened and finally escorted Biswas out at 6:15 pm with eggs flying at him from all directions.
Key Questions During Interrogation
During the interrogation, investigators asked Biswas how he managed to get so close to Messi despite stringent security protocols and why he repeatedly touched the football icon while posing for photographs. These issues were reportedly raised in an email sent to the Bidhannagar police commissioner by Messi's chief adviser and consultant for the GOAT India Tour. The communication allegedly flagged security protocol violations, including claims that Biswas placed his hands on Messi's shoulder and waist during photo sessions, suggesting these incidents contributed to the footballer's early departure.
Ticket Distribution Scrutiny
Investigators also questioned Biswas about the distribution of VIP tickets for the event. Organizer and complainant Satadru Dutta alleged that Biswas used his influence to take control of 22,000 tickets. Officers sought details on the preparation of the VIP guest list, identities of those allowed into the VIP enclosure, whether prescribed procedures were followed, and who authorized entry onto the ground.
Speaking to reporters while leaving the police station, Biswas said, "I will return to face the investigators. I won't comment on the case as the matter is sub judice. I have faith in judiciary and I believe truth will prevail."
