Messi visit fiasco in Kolkata: A self-described “sports entrepreneur and influencer”, Shatadru Dutta finds himself on the wrong side of the law and of the fans of Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi, who booed him on Sunday as he was being taken to a police lock-up in Bidhannagar.
Arrested for Saturday’s mismanagement at Salt Lake stadium as angry Messi fans went on a rampage over the footballer’s fleeting appearance, 45-year-old Dutta is the founder of ‘A Shatadru Dutta Initiative’ and a central figure in the promotion of high-profile football legends in India, having previously brought icons like Pelé, Diego Maradona, and Cafu to the country.
Born and brought up in Rishra, Hooghly, Dutta’s childhood preference was cricket, not football. He studied at Holy Home School in Sreerampur, earned a degree in Economics, and initially chose Wealth Management and Investment Banking, starting his career at a private bank before quitting his job in 2011 to venture into event management.
Dutta’s passion for football is deep, people close to him said, noting that he named his only son ‘Diego’ after another Argentine legend, Maradona.
Dutta gradually carved a niche in Kolkata’s sports circles, developing a close association with cricketer and former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, which increased his earnings, and leveraging social media, where he regularly posts pictures with famous players, building credibility – he currently has a little above 6,000 followers on Instagram and 16,000 on Facebook.
He was also an adviser for Project Mahadeva, a grassroots football initiative in Maharashtra inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff.
His brand website describes him as: “Shatadru Dutta stands as an emblem of visionary leadership, carving a distinctive path at the intersection of sports innovation and investment brilliance. Over the past decade, his impactful leadership has etched Kolkata onto the global sporting landscape. His endeavors have not only redefined excellence but have also woven a narrative of Kolkata’s prominence in the world of sports.”
However, those in event management circles claimed that Dutta’s career has been marked by instances of “mismanaged events”.
One of his foremost initiatives was organising a match between Brazil Masters and Indian Masters at the same Salt Lake stadium on December 8, 2012.
“Just before the start of the match, Hegueta, a renowned goalkeeper from Colombia, refused to play as he did not get full payment,” a sports enthusiast told The Indian Express.
Three years later, he earned the spotlight by bringing Pelé to Kolkata.
“That too was mismanaged, but it wasn’t widely discussed. But in 2017, when he brought Maradona, the mismanagement was for all to see. The Golden Boy was mobbed by a huge crowd,” said an official of a leading football club in Kolkata.
In bringing Messi, which was branded as an “A Shatadru Dutta Initiative,” insiders claimed that he sealed the deal for Rs 100 crore to bring the footballer to four Indian cities – Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.
However, the police are yet to zero in on the contract that Dutta signed with Messi’s agents. “We are verifying the company that sealed the deal for Messi’s visit. Whether ‘A Shatadru Dutta Initiative’ was the one involved in the transaction is also being verified,” a senior police officer involved in the probe said.
“Sometimes, a group of people form a society and execute such events involving big names. Our probe is at a very initial stage, and we are unclear on the financial part of it,” said another officer.
Dutta is also known for his proximity to political circles. An aide said, “He is very close to some of the top TMC leaders, including some Cabinet colleagues of Mamata Banerjee… Being close to Sourav Ganguly, he expanded his footings in Indian politics and sports arena. He has close ties with some politicians of the BJP and the Congress, too.”
BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Sunday said Dutta was being made a “scapegoat”.
“The first person who should have been arrested is (TMC minister) Arup Biswas… Shatadaru is just a broker,” Adhikari said.
Dutta had expressed excitement upon receiving Messi, saying, “I just want to tell him to play football with me. And if I’m not successful, I will go to the gym tomorrow morning to catch a glimpse of him. I have my autograph book ready, and hopefully I will get a selfie.”
That seems like a long time ago. For now, Dutta is locked in a police station for the next 14 days.