Kolkata: The Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Court in West Bengal on Sunday extended the police custody of Satadru Dutta, the chief organiser of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi’s event in Kolkata, until January 9. Dutta had been arrested earlier this month in connection with the event, which descended into chaos and widespread public disorder at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13.

The court proceedings came after the completion of Dutta’s initial police custody. During the hearing, public prosecutors leveled multiple charges against him, ranging from mismanagement of the stadium event to financial irregularities and alleged corruption.

Allegations Against Dutta

According to police reports, Dutta is accused of several lapses that contributed to the chaotic turn of events. These include:

• Contractual Mismanagement: Dutta allegedly entered into contracts with food and beverage suppliers without prior approval from the government, raising questions over the legitimacy and financial propriety of the arrangements.
• Financial Irregularities: Authorities claimed that the contract for supplying food and beverages was valued at ₹40 lakh officially, while Dutta allegedly received ₹60 lakh in cash. Additionally, ticket sales for the event reportedly amounted to around ₹19 crore, with over 34,000 tickets purchased.
• Pre-planned Disorder: The prosecution suggested that the event mismanagement, including Messi leaving the field within 20 minutes, may have been pre-planned, pointing to Dutta’s significant influence in orchestrating the event.
• Absence of Professional Event Management: While Messi’s other appearances in India involved professional sports management companies, no such company was appointed for the Kolkata programme, raising concerns over organisational competence.

A senior police officer stated, “The investigation requires further probe into the financial transactions and pre-planned arrangements for the event. His bail plea was rejected, and he has been sent to police custody till January 9.”

The Event and Public Outrage

The Messi event in Kolkata was highly anticipated, marking his first visit to the venue since 2011. Fans purchased tickets priced between ₹4,000 to ₹12,000, with some paying as much as ₹20,000 in the black market, in hopes of witnessing the football superstar.

However, the event quickly turned chaotic and violent. Messi’s appearance was brief and tightly controlled, lasting only 20 minutes. Fans who were unable to get even a glimpse of the player reacted angrily, leading to rioting, vandalism, and widespread disorder at the stadium.

The mismanagement of crowd control, ticketing, and logistics has since become a focal point of investigation, as authorities attempt to assign responsibility and prevent similar incidents in the future.

Legal Proceedings

During Sunday’s court proceedings, Dutta was seen holding a copy of the Gita, while his bail plea was opposed by the prosecution, which argued that he was the primary orchestrator of the chaotic event. Prosecutors stressed that Dutta wielded significant influence over arrangements and that granting him bail could hinder the ongoing investigation.

The police have highlighted the need to examine all financial transactions, contracts, and pre-event planning, emphasizing that further scrutiny is necessary to establish the full extent of the alleged misconduct.

Impact on Fans and Public Sentiment

The chaos at the stadium left thousands of fans frustrated and sparked widespread outrage on social media. Many ticket holders expressed disappointment over the lack of transparency and inadequate arrangements, which not only failed to provide a safe and enjoyable experience but also turned a celebrated sporting event into a matter of public concern.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the organisational failures, financial irregularities, and the alleged corruption connected to the event. The extended custody of Dutta aims to ensure that investigators have sufficient timeto probe the complexities of the case and hold responsible parties accountable.

Next Steps

The West Bengal Police and related agencies are likely to continue their forensic audit of the event’s financial and contractual arrangements. They are also examining security lapses, crowd management failures, and the absence of professional event managers to understand how the situation escalated into widespread chaos.

Dutta’s extended custody will allow investigators to question him thoroughly about the alleged mismanagement and corruption, while also tracing the financial flows related to ticket sales and vendor payments.

The Messi event controversy has become a high-profile case in Kolkata, drawing attention from media, fans, and civic authorities. It also raises broader concerns about the management of large-scale events in the city and the accountability of organisers, particularly in cases involving high-profile international celebrities.

As the investigation continues, authorities are expected to tighten regulations for future events, ensuring that professional management, crowd safety, and transparent financial practices are prioritized to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.