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Calcutta High Court Grants Interim Protection to Former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas in Messi Event Case
In a decision that reverberated across West Bengal’s political arena, the Calcutta High Court granted former Sports Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Aroop Biswas interim protection on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. The ruling shields Biswas from any coercive action while the investigation into the chaotic Lionel Messi event at Salt Lake Stadium in December 2025 proceeds.
The case was brought by event organiser Satadru Datta, who alleges that Biswas leveraged his political clout to secure 22,000 complimentary tickets, accreditation cards and close‑proximity passes for the high‑profile match. Datta further claims that Biswas forced him to issue the tickets and that the minister’s influence contributed to the disorder that erupted during the game, prompting Messi to exit the venue within minutes of arrival.
December’s event, part of Messi’s India tour, devolved into widespread vandalism. Fans tore seats, hurled objects onto the pitch and shouted accusations of a scam. The spectacle embarrassed the West Bengal government on the international stage, leading Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to suspend Biswas and to order Datta’s arrest.
Biswas filed a petition after a First Information Report was lodged against him. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya questioned Biswas for failing to appear for questioning despite two notices from Bidhannagar police. The judge also directed him to submit his passport and to remain within the court’s jurisdiction until a court‑issued permission is obtained. He was ordered to appear before the police for questioning once a notice is served at least 48 hours in advance.
During the hearing, photographs of Biswas holding Messi by the waist were shown in the courtroom. Justice Bhattacharyya asked whether Biswas was Messi’s childhood friend and expressed that everyone was ashamed of how the event unfolded in Kolkata, especially since the same event was reportedly organized smoothly in three other Indian cities.
The decision marks the first instance of relief granted to a senior TMC leader since the party’s crackdown began after its electoral loss in 2026. In the past month, several top TMC leaders have been jailed in separate cases.
According to reports, Datta’s counsel stated that he was coerced by Biswas to provide the tickets and that once protection is granted, they would comply with any future police requests. Biswas’s counsel replied that they would attend police questioning “tomorrow or the day after” once protection is in place.
The Calcutta High Court’s ruling does not resolve the underlying investigation. A special investigation team (SIT) is still probing the incident, and the court has declined to interfere with the SIT’s work. The court’s order merely ensures that Biswas is not subjected to arrest or other coercive measures while the investigation proceeds.
The case remains significant for West Bengal politics. Biswas, who served as minister for Power and Housing and is a member of the TMC’s National Working Committee, was elected MLA from Tollygunj in 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021. The interim protection may influence the political dynamics ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
At present, the court has not set a date for a full hearing. The next steps will depend on the SIT’s findings and any further court filings by either party. The legal process is ongoing, and no final judgment has been issued.
The interim protection granted to Biswas is a procedural decision that does not address the allegations of misuse of political influence or the chaos that marred the Messi event. The case will continue to unfold as the SIT completes its investigation and as the court reviews any additional evidence.
The outcome of the investigation and any subsequent court rulings will have implications for the TMC’s leadership and for the governance of sports events in West Bengal.
The case was brought by event organiser Satadru Datta, who alleges that Biswas leveraged his political clout to secure 22,000 complimentary tickets, accreditation cards and close‑proximity passes for the high‑profile match. Datta further claims that Biswas forced him to issue the tickets and that the minister’s influence contributed to the disorder that erupted during the game, prompting Messi to exit the venue within minutes of arrival.
December’s event, part of Messi’s India tour, devolved into widespread vandalism. Fans tore seats, hurled objects onto the pitch and shouted accusations of a scam. The spectacle embarrassed the West Bengal government on the international stage, leading Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to suspend Biswas and to order Datta’s arrest.
Biswas filed a petition after a First Information Report was lodged against him. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya questioned Biswas for failing to appear for questioning despite two notices from Bidhannagar police. The judge also directed him to submit his passport and to remain within the court’s jurisdiction until a court‑issued permission is obtained. He was ordered to appear before the police for questioning once a notice is served at least 48 hours in advance.
During the hearing, photographs of Biswas holding Messi by the waist were shown in the courtroom. Justice Bhattacharyya asked whether Biswas was Messi’s childhood friend and expressed that everyone was ashamed of how the event unfolded in Kolkata, especially since the same event was reportedly organized smoothly in three other Indian cities.
The decision marks the first instance of relief granted to a senior TMC leader since the party’s crackdown began after its electoral loss in 2026. In the past month, several top TMC leaders have been jailed in separate cases.
According to reports, Datta’s counsel stated that he was coerced by Biswas to provide the tickets and that once protection is granted, they would comply with any future police requests. Biswas’s counsel replied that they would attend police questioning “tomorrow or the day after” once protection is in place.
The Calcutta High Court’s ruling does not resolve the underlying investigation. A special investigation team (SIT) is still probing the incident, and the court has declined to interfere with the SIT’s work. The court’s order merely ensures that Biswas is not subjected to arrest or other coercive measures while the investigation proceeds.
The case remains significant for West Bengal politics. Biswas, who served as minister for Power and Housing and is a member of the TMC’s National Working Committee, was elected MLA from Tollygunj in 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2021. The interim protection may influence the political dynamics ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
At present, the court has not set a date for a full hearing. The next steps will depend on the SIT’s findings and any further court filings by either party. The legal process is ongoing, and no final judgment has been issued.
The interim protection granted to Biswas is a procedural decision that does not address the allegations of misuse of political influence or the chaos that marred the Messi event. The case will continue to unfold as the SIT completes its investigation and as the court reviews any additional evidence.
The outcome of the investigation and any subsequent court rulings will have implications for the TMC’s leadership and for the governance of sports events in West Bengal.
