Lionel Messi Event Chaos: The aftermath of the chaotic Lionel Messi event at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium has now sparked a broader investigation, with police probing possible financial irregularities after a search of the chief organiser’s residence revealed concerning findings.
A Special Investigating Team (SIT) launched a raid at the home of Satadru Dutta, the event’s chief organiser, at his three-storey property in Rishra on Friday. The police discovered unusual features within the residence, which included a swimming pool on one floor, a football field on the roof terrace, and a sizeable office space.
While investigators examined several documents and agreement papers during the search, the police clarified that this was a routine procedure and confirmed that no items were seized.
A team from the Bidhannagar Police Detective Department arrived at the house early on Saturday morning, following a visit to the Rishra police station. According to reports from The Times of India (TOI), five officers entered the premises, where they found only a domestic helper present. The caretaker was questioned, and all rooms in the house were thoroughly searched as part of the ongoing investigation.
Dutta had been arrested on December 13, mere hours after the mayhem broke out at the Salt Lake Stadium during the Messi event. As the primary organiser, Dutta was held accountable for what the police referred to as “serious lapses in planning and execution,” which contributed to the chaos at the venue.
The SIT is now expanding its focus to include potential financial irregularities, with preliminary findings suggesting that a sum approaching Rs 100 crore may be involved. Allegedly, this amount is linked to the event, and investigators are looking into the possible involvement of key office-bearers from the organising body, as well as associated organisers, in illicit financial activities.
Police officials indicated that amounts ranging between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 30 lakh were charged for photographs taken with Messi during the event. However, no official records have been discovered to confirm these transactions. Investigators suspect that the money may have been collected in cash, suggesting it could be unaccounted income.
The probe has also raised questions about ticket sales. Officers reported that the records for almost half of the tickets sold were missing. Despite organisers claiming that only half of the 66,000 available tickets were sold, with the remainder distributed for free, police remain sceptical of this explanation. Investigators argue that such a strategy would likely have led to substantial financial losses, a scenario they find improbable for a large-scale commercial sporting event.