Aroop Biswas faces egg attack at Kolkata court over Messi event refund row
Synopsis
A former West Bengal minister spent part of Thursday trapped in a lawyer's chamber at Kolkata's Alipore court while protesting lawyers banged on the door with eggs — the fallout of an unresolved ticket-refund dispute from Lionel Messi's India tour. With police protection expiring on 2 July and a High Court challenge pending, the pressure on Aroop Biswas is only building.
Key Takeaways
Aroop Biswas , former Trinamool Congress MLA from Tollygunge , faced an egg-throwing protest at Judge's Court, Alipore on 18 June .
Protesting lawyers demanded refunds for ticketholders of Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour at Yuva Bharati Krirangan in December 2024 .
Biswas was questioned for three hours at Bidhannagar South Police Station earlier the same day — his first appearance after three prior summons went unheeded.
The Calcutta High Court has granted him interim protection from coercive police action until 2 July .
Event manager Satadru Dutta has challenged the protection order before a division bench of the High Court.
Kolkata Police escorted Biswas out of the chamber at around 6:15 pm ; it is unclear whether the thrown eggs made contact.
Former West Bengal minister Aroop Biswas was confronted by a protesting group of lawyers at the Judge's Court in Alipore, Kolkata, on Thursday, 18 June, when he arrived to meet his advocate — with eggs thrown at him as police escorted him out of the chamber. The incident follows mounting public anger over unrefunded ticket proceeds from Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour event held at Yuva Bharati Krirangan in December last year.
What Happened at the Court
On learning that Biswas had entered the chamber of his lawyer, Gopal Halder, a section of lawyers gathered outside carrying eggs and began demanding refunds for ticketholders of the Messi event. They banged on the chamber door, trapping the former minister inside for an extended period.
A separate group of lawyers attempted to defuse the situation, arguing that any individual — accused or otherwise — has the right to consult their counsel without interference. Their appeals, however, failed to calm the crowd. At some point, the lights inside the chamber were switched off. Around 6:15 pm, Kolkata Police intervened and escorted Biswas out. As he was led away, eggs were reportedly thrown at him, though it remains unclear whether any made contact.
Earlier in the Day: Police Questioning
The court confrontation came hours after Biswas appeared before Bidhannagar South Police Station at around 10 am in connection with a complaint filed by Satadru Dutta, the main event manager of the Messi tour. Police had previously summoned him on three separate occasions, each of which he reportedly failed to attend. On Thursday, he was questioned for three hours, with the entire session videographed.
After leaving the police station, Biswas reportedly spent approximately two hours moving through various parts of Kolkata before proceeding to the Alipore court to consult his lawyer — a visit that triggered the protest.
Legal Shield and Court Battle
Biswas, a former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA from Tollygunge, has secured interim protection from the Calcutta High Court in the Messi case. The court has directed that police cannot take any coercive action against him until 2 July, subject to certain conditions.
Satadru Dutta has, however, challenged this order before a division bench of the Calcutta High Court, contesting the single bench's decision granting the protection. That challenge is now pending.
Background: The Messi Event Controversy
The dispute stems from the GOAT India Tour event featuring football icon Lionel Messi, held at Yuva Bharati Krirangan (also known as Salt Lake Stadium) in December 2024. Ticketholders have alleged that proceeds were not refunded despite grievances over the event. Biswas, as a former state minister, has been named in the complaint by the event manager, drawing him into an escalating legal and public controversy.
With the division bench challenge pending and police protection expiring on 2 July, the legal trajectory of this case is likely to sharpen in the coming weeks.
Point of View
Combined with his swift recourse to High Court protection, reflects a pattern where political proximity to legal cover is assumed. The division bench challenge by Satadru Dutta is the real test: if the interim protection falls, the case moves into far more consequential territory. West Bengal's political class should note that the anger here is not partisan — it is transactional, from ordinary ticketholders who paid and did not receive what was promised.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were lawyers protesting against Aroop Biswas at Kolkata court?
A section of lawyers protested against former minister Aroop Biswas at the Judge's Court in Alipore, Kolkata, on 18 June, demanding that ticket proceeds from Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour event at Yuva Bharati Krirangan in December 2024 be refunded to buyers. Biswas is named in a complaint related to the event filed by its main manager, Satadru Dutta.
What is the Messi GOAT India Tour ticket refund case?
The case centres on a Lionel Messi appearance event held at Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata in December 2024. Ticketholders have alleged that refunds were not issued, and event manager Satadru Dutta has filed a complaint naming Aroop Biswas, a former state minister, in connection with the dispute.
Has Aroop Biswas been arrested in the Messi event case?
No. The Calcutta High Court has granted Biswas interim protection from coercive police action until 2 July, meaning police cannot arrest him during that period, subject to conditions. Satadru Dutta has challenged this order before a division bench of the High Court.
Why did it take so long for Biswas to appear before the police?
According to reports, Biswas had been summoned by Bidhannagar South Police Station on three prior occasions but did not appear each time. He finally appeared on 18 June and was questioned for three hours, with the session videographed.
What happens after 2 July in the Aroop Biswas case?
The Calcutta High Court's interim protection for Biswas from coercive police action expires on 2 July. Additionally, the division bench is hearing Satadru Dutta's challenge to the single bench's protection order. The outcome of that hearing will determine what legal steps police may take next.
