The fallout from the chaotic Lionel Messi event in Kolkata continues, with police investigations now decisively focused on securing refunds for thousands of aggrieved football fans and determining who will bear the financial burden. The event, which descended into disarray, has prompted a special investigation team (SIT) to dig deep into the ticketing process and access control failures.
Ticketing Executives Grilled by SIT
In a significant development, investigators have begun questioning senior officials from the online ticketing platform responsible for selling passes for the show. Three senior executives flew in from Gurgaon and appeared before the SIT at its Bidhannagar office on Saturday. Police confirmed that the officials will be questioned again on Monday as the probe intensifies.
The SIT has demanded granular details from the platform, including comprehensive data on ticket sales, the total revenue collected, and precise buyer information. This move is seen as crucial to ensuring that refunds reach only the genuine purchasers. "The buyers' phone numbers and email IDs should be available with the ticketing company. That is essential to verify claims and process refunds," a senior officer involved in the investigation stated.
Refunds and Financial Freeze
Bidhannagar City Police commissioner Mukesh revealed that, in the aftermath of the mayhem, the ticketing platform has been instructed not to release any funds to the main organiser, Satadru Dutta. This directive aims to secure the money required for potential refunds. Dutta had earlier claimed that Messi was paid Rs 89 crore for the India tour, with an additional Rs 11 crore paid as tax.
However, the police have drawn a clear line regarding certain types of passes. They indicated that they would not entertain refund claims for so-called "complimentary" passes that were allegedly sold in the grey market. "Complimentary passes are not meant to be sold. Anyone who paid money for such passes entered an illegal transaction from the outset," an officer clarified, setting a strict parameter for the refund process.
Scrutiny Over Access Control Lapses
Parallel to the financial investigation, the SIT is meticulously scrutinising the severe access-control lapses that contributed to the on-ground disorder. Officers were informed that passes for only 150 people had been officially issued for ground access. Shockingly, this number was increased threefold after "someone influential overpowered the system."
To unravel this breach, investigators are now preparing a name-wise list of individuals who had legitimate ground access versus those who entered later without authorisation. Notices are being issued to those who were in close proximity to Messi, summoning them to explain how and why they breached the restricted zones. This step underscores the police's effort to hold accountable those responsible for the security failure.
The combined focus on financial accountability and security protocol violations highlights the multi-pronged approach of the Kolkata police as they address the widespread anger simmering among football fans following the event's disastrous execution.
