In 3rd cop call, Aroop grilled for 3 hrs in Messi stadium event case
Times of India | 8 July 2026
Kolkata: Hours before Lionel Messi took the field against Egypt, former Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas appeared before investigators at Bidhannagar South police station on Tuesday for the third round of questioning over alleged irregularities surrounding the Argentine legend’s GOAT India Tour event at Salt Lake Stadium last Dec.
Biswas, who now owes allegiance to the Ritabrata Banerjee camp of Trinamool, reached the police station around 10 am and left the premises through the rear gate at 1 pm. However, unlike the last two occasions, when he was attacked with eggs, slippers and a football by BJP workers, there was no such incident on Tuesday.
This was also Biswas’s first public appearance since he attended a conference with the rebel TMC camp at a hotel in New Town last month. After his 3-hour appearance, the former MLA said he would continue to cooperate with the investigation and attend whenever summoned.
Police said Biswas’s statement was recorded and will be examined along with other evidence collected. He was earlier questioned on June 18 and June 22. Calcutta High Court has already granted him interim protection from arrest till Aug 17, while directing the police to submit a status report on the probe by July 10.
Speaking to reporters after his questioning, Biswas said he had appeared thrice before investigators. “I am ready to cooperate with the investigation. I am helping them as much as I can and I will come every time I am called,” he said. Refusing to comment on the allegations against him, Biswas said he would respond before the court and expressed confidence that “truth will prevail”.
The case stems from a complaint lodged on May 17 by Shatadru Dutta, the principal organiser of the event, accusing Biswas of cheating, criminal intimidation and extortion. Dutta alleged that nearly 22,000 tickets for the event were sold in the black market and claimed Biswas misused his position as then sports minister to influence the organisation of the programme.
The Dec 13 event at Salt Lake Stadium descended into chaos after a large number of people allegedly entered the venue without valid access, leading to severe overcrowding. Several spectators who purchased high-priced tickets complained they were unable to watch Messi properly because of the mismanagement as they saw Biswas clinging to Messi, posing for multiple photographs.
Messi left the stadium amid the commotion, after which sections of the crowd vandalised parts of the venue. Dutta was arrested in connection with the episode and spent 38 days behind bars. After securing bail, he alleged that Biswas was responsible for the event’s collapse.