Security Lapses Exposed at Messi’s Kolkata Event, SIT Probes Unauthorized Access
Messi Event Row: During the investigation into Messi's Kolkata event, the main organizer, Shatadru Dutta, made several significant revelations. He stated that Messi was paid ₹89 crore, but he was unhappy with being touched or hugged.
Some disturbing factors have come to the forefront during the course of the inquiry into the chaos at the event held for the Argentine star Lionel Messi in the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Some important confessions have also been made by the main organizer who has been arrested, named Shatadru Dutta, during the course of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) grilling. It should be remembered that the fans, who had bought highly priced tickets, went into a frenzy because of the lack of visibility of Messi from the galleries.
Shatadru Dutta told the SIT that Lionel Messi was upset by being touched or hugged while arriving at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13th. According to him, foreign security officials had already stated that Messi does not like being touched on the back or hugged. Despite repeated announcements, Messi was surrounded by the crowd on the field, forcing him to leave the field before the scheduled time.
Organizers claimed that only 150 ground passes were initially issued for the event. However, the number was reportedly nearly three times that. Dutta said that the sudden increase in crowds due to the arrival of an influential person disrupted the entire flow chart of the program, preventing organizers from controlling entry into the ground area.
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The SIT is also investigating Dutta's claim that the arrival of the unnamed influential person disrupted crowd management. Police are investigating whether this interference led to unauthorized entry, a security breach, and a large crowd, allowing dozens of people to get dangerously close to Messi.
West Bengal Sports Minister Arup Biswas was seen very close to Messi throughout the event, and in photographs, he was seen holding the footballer's waist. He is accused of using his influence to allow relatives and acquaintances access to Messi. Amidst growing protests, Biswas has resigned from his post until the investigation is complete.
Dutta revealed that Messi was paid ₹89 crore for the India tour, while ₹11 crore was paid to the government as taxes, bringing the total expenditure to ₹100 crore. He claimed that 30 percent of the funds came from sponsors and 30 percent from ticket sales. Investigators found more than ₹20 crore in Dutta's frozen bank accounts and seized documents from his home. Police are investigating whether the money came from ticket sales and sponsorships, as Dutta has claimed.
