Messi event chaos: Number of arrests rise to 5, HC to hear PILs

The number of arrests in connection with the violence and vandalism during the Lionel Messi-related programme at Yuva Bharati Krirangan has risen to five, as Bidhannagar police intensified their probe into the large-scale chaos that broke out inside the stadium on Saturday.

Police on Monday arrested three more persons — Basudeb Das, Sanjay Das and Abhijit Das — taking the total number of arrests to five. Earlier in the day, Gaurab Basu and Subhratipratim Dey were arrested from the Nagerbazar area. All the accused were produced before the Bidhannagar court, which remanded them to police custody. According to police sources, the arrests were made after scrutinising multiple video clips of the vandalism that went viral on social media platforms. The CCTV footage from inside and around the stadium was also analysed to identify the accused. “The arrests were based on visual evidence collected from CCTV cameras and social media videos,” a senior police officer said. An FIR has been registered against the accused under eight specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of obstructing government officials from performing their duties, intentionally causing injury to public servants, grievous hurt to on-duty officials and creating public disorder.

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Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding the event has widened with police summoning six associates of event manager Shatadru Dutta’s firm, which was responsible for organising the programme. The six have been asked to appear before Bidhannagar South police station on Monday. Investigators are seeking answers to several key questions, including why spectators who had purchased high-priced tickets were unable to see Messi, how water bottles were allowed inside the stadium despite police restrictions, and who was responsible for selling water bottles within the premises — a factor that allegedly contributed to the violence when bottles were hurled during the chaos.

The incident has now reached the Calcutta High Court. Two public interest litigation (PIL) petitions have been allowed to be filed in connection with the disorder at Yuva Bharati. Advocate Bilbadal Bhattacharya, who moved one of the petitions, said the incident had tarnished the image of West Bengal at an international level and warranted immediate judicial intervention. Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul granted permission to file both PILs, and the matter is likely to come up for hearing before a division bench headed by the Chief Justice on Tuesday.

Political reactions have also sharpened following the circulation of a viral video purportedly showing fire services minister Sujit Bose distributing tickets outside the Lake Town clock tower. Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari alleged that a large portion of the tickets had gone to Trinamul Congress leaders and supporters, claiming the viral video was proof. He further demanded a CBI and ED probe into what he described as a “scam”, alleging that key political figures linked to the ruling party were yet to be summoned. Responding to the allegations, Mr Bose said he had received complimentary tickets, as he does for many sporting events. “Whether it is Mohun Bagan or East Bengal, I receive complimentary tickets. If I get tickets, I distribute them among people. Everyone knows that if tickets are with me, they will get them. I have not sold tickets for money,” the minister said.