The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the chaotic scenes that marred the Lionel Messi event in Kolkata on December 13 has pinpointed a specific section of the Salt Lake Stadium as the epicenter of the vandalism. Police are now certain that the first volley of water bottles was hurled from the lower tiers of the stadium's AD cutout, an area perilously close to the entry and exit route used by the football legend himself.
Ground Zero of the Chaos Identified
Investigators have concentrated their efforts on the AD block after a meticulous review of available evidence. A senior officer confirmed that CCTV footage from this specific block has been sent to forensic experts for frame-by-frame analysis. "We have finalised the area – it is close to the VIP tents that were set up in the playing arena," the officer stated. The chaos erupted after Messi's departure, with a continuous bombardment of bottles. Initially, the upper and middle tiers were not involved; the SIT is probing whether the first provocative act originated from the lower tier. A suspicion under investigation is that the placement of VIP tents may have obstructed the view for some spectators in the front, potentially leading to frustration.
Organisers Under Scanner as Probe Widens
Parallel to the forensic analysis, another team comprising Bidhannagar police and monitored by the SIT has begun questioning key personnel from the organising company led by Satadru Dutta. At least two officials have been interrogated so far. One handled the sensitive matter of VIP tickets and access passes, while the other was responsible for food and water tenders. This individual was also present in crucial liaison meetings with state agencies before the event. Adding to the list, a third person, representing the online ticketing firm for the event, recorded his statement on Thursday. SIT officials indicated that several more individuals are likely to be examined in the coming days.
The police have specifically asked the two organisers to provide the official list of personnel granted ground access, which was supposedly shared with the police prior to the event. Crucial questions were raised about the signatories on the access cards, the authority who issued them, and the final, exact count of people present on the field during the event last Saturday.
CCTV Footage Reveals Wider Misdemeanours
This development coincides with the police seizing additional CCTV footage from areas outside the stadium. A police source revealed that while the event inside the hotel involving Messi proceeded smoothly, suspicious activities were noted outside. "The fact that the close-proximity passes got distributed – and even bought – from this point, too, has been recorded in certain videos," the source said. This suggests a possible nexus of unauthorized pass sales near the stadium and hotel gates.
In a separate but related line of inquiry, the police are also hunting for individuals who allegedly made off with government property after the event. After the vandalism, many were seen on camera leaving the venue with chairs, carpets, and other items. Law enforcement has collected this footage and claims to have identified several persons involved in this act of theft, broadening the scope of the investigation beyond the bottle-throwing incident.
