Aroop Biswas seeks anticipatory bail in Messi Kolkata event vandalism case
Synopsis
A former West Bengal Sports Minister seeking anticipatory bail after an FIR — filed by the very organiser who was once arrested under his watch — captures the sharp political reversal in Bengal. The allegation: black-marketing 22,000 tickets for Messi's India visit. The new BJP government's fingerprints are all over the prosecution push.
Key Takeaways
Aroop Biswas , former West Bengal Sports Minister, filed an anticipatory bail plea at Barasat District Court on 1 June .
An FIR was registered against him on 30 May at Bidhannagar South Police Station over the Yuva Bharati Krirangan vandalism during Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour on 13 December .
Event organiser Satadru Dutta alleged Biswas black-marketed approximately 22,000 tickets for the Messi event.
Biswas lost his Tollygunge seat to BJP 's Papiya Adhikari by over 6,000 votes in the recent elections.
New Sports Minister Nishith Pramanik had signalled intent to investigate the Messi event controversy after taking charge.
Former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas on Monday, 1 June filed an anticipatory bail plea before the Barasat District Court in North 24 Parganas, days after an FIR was registered against him in connection with the vandalism at Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake during Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour on 13 December last year. The petition has been admitted, though a date for the first hearing is yet to be fixed.
Background: The FIR and the Messi Event
The Bidhannagar South Police Station registered the FIR on the night of 30 May, acting on a written complaint filed on 17 May by Satadru Dutta, the principal organiser of the Messi event. In his complaint, Dutta alleged that Biswas had black-marketed approximately 22,000 tickets for the high-profile football event, which descended into chaos amid reports of vandalism at the stadium.
Notably, during the previous All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government's tenure, it was Dutta himself who was arrested by police in connection with the Yuva Bharati incident. He was subsequently released on bail. The reversal of fortunes — with the organiser now the complainant and the former minister the accused — reflects the changed political landscape in the state.
Biswas's Political Setback
Biswas, a four-time All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator from the Tollygunge Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas, suffered a significant electoral defeat in the recently concluded state elections. He lost to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Papiya Adhikari — a first-time legislator and actress-turned-politician — by a margin of over 6,000 votes.
New Government's Role
After the FIR was registered, Dutta publicly thanked the current West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, the new state Sports Minister Nishith Pramanik, and Director General of Police Sidh Nath Gupta. Pramanik had earlier indicated his intent to open an official file into the Messi event controversy after assuming charge as Sports Minister, signalling that the new administration intended to pursue accountability in the matter.
What Happens Next
The Barasat District Court is yet to schedule the first hearing on Biswas's anticipatory bail application. Meanwhile, the Bidhannagar South Police Station has initiated a formal investigation into the ticket black-marketing allegations. The case is being watched closely as one of the first high-profile accountability actions under the new West Bengal government, with the outcome likely to set a precedent for how such complaints against former functionaries are handled.
Point of View
The complainant, arrested instead. The ticket black-marketing allegation, involving 22,000 seats at a marquee international event, raises serious questions about how state sports infrastructure was managed. Whether the courts deliver a conviction or not, the case hands the new dispensation a potent narrative of accountability — and puts the TMC on the defensive at a vulnerable moment post-election.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Aroop Biswas filed for anticipatory bail?
Aroop Biswas filed for anticipatory bail at the Barasat District Court after an FIR was registered against him on 30 May at Bidhannagar South Police Station. The FIR relates to alleged vandalism at Yuva Bharati Krirangan during Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour and the alleged black-marketing of around 22,000 event tickets.
Who filed the complaint against Aroop Biswas?
Satadru Dutta, the main organiser of the Messi GOAT India Tour event, filed a written complaint against Biswas and several others on 17 May. The police registered the FIR on 30 May based on that complaint.
What happened at the Messi event in Kolkata?
During Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour match at Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake on 13 December last year, vandalism was reported at the stadium. The event was also mired in allegations of large-scale ticket black-marketing, with the organiser claiming around 22,000 tickets were illegally sold.
What is the political context of this case?
Aroop Biswas is a four-time TMC legislator who lost his Tollygunge seat to BJP's Papiya Adhikari by over 6,000 votes in the recent elections. The FIR was registered after the BJP came to power in West Bengal, and the new Sports Minister Nishith Pramanik had publicly stated his intent to investigate the Messi event controversy.
What happens next in the case?
The Barasat District Court has admitted Biswas's anticipatory bail petition but is yet to fix a date for the first hearing. Simultaneously, Bidhannagar South Police Station has begun a formal investigation into the ticket black-marketing allegations.
