Former West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas has been summoned by the police in connection with the chaos that erupted at the Lionel Messi event held at Salt Lake Stadium last year. The summons came after Biswas failed to appear before the investigators by the Friday deadline.
Summons Issued After Non-Appearance
The Trinamool Congress leader, who had previously cited health issues and stated he was not in a position to attend the summons, has now been directed to appear before the investigating officers on June 8. A police officer from Bidhannagar Dakshin police station confirmed, "We have asked Aroop Biswas to appear before our officers on June 8. A notice has been served to him today."
Background of the Case
The case stems from an FIR lodged by event organiser Shatadru Dutta, who accused the former minister of black-marketing tickets, extortion, criminal intimidation, and cheating in connection with the high-profile football event that took place in December 2025. The event at Salt Lake Stadium on December 13, 2025, descended into chaos after a large number of people entered the venue allegedly without valid access, leading to security breaches and crowd disorder.
Spectator Complaints and Aftermath
Many spectators who had purchased expensive tickets complained that they could neither properly see Messi nor enjoy the programme due to overcrowding and mismanagement. Messi left the ground quickly amid the commotion, following which sections of angry spectators vandalised parts of the stadium. The controversy triggered a political storm at the time, with fingers being pointed at the then sports minister Aroop Biswas over alleged lapses in planning and crowd management.
Organiser's Arrest and Allegations
Dutta was subsequently arrested by police and spent 37 days in custody before securing bail. Following his release, he blamed Biswas for the event's collapse and the losses suffered by the organisers. The case continues to unfold as Biswas is expected to appear before investigators on June 8.
