Kolkata, Dec 28 (NationPress) In relation to alleged financial misconduct and disorder during the felicitation ceremony for football legend Lionel Messi at Yuva Bharati Krirangan on December 13, the Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Court has denied the bail request of Satadru Dutta, the primary organiser of the event.

Dutta was apprehended by the Bidhannagar Police after chaos erupted at Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake during the occasion, and he was presented to the court following the conclusion of his 14-day police custody.

Instead of approving bail, the court mandated that he be held in judicial custody until January 9.

Outside the court, Dutta’s attorney, Soumyajit Raha, made a contentious statement, asserting that his client was “leading 3-0.” In response, public prosecutor Bibhas Chatterjee pointed out that it was actually Dutta who had “conceded three goals.”

During the proceedings, the public prosecutor revealed that financial discrepancies totaling approximately Rs 23 crore were associated with the event's organisation.

“The investigation is still in its early stages. About 35,000 attendees purchased tickets, yielding nearly Rs 19 crore,” the prosecutor informed the court.

Additionally, he indicated that government assets valued at around Rs 2 crore were damaged amidst the turmoil that transpired at the venue.

Opposing Dutta’s bail application, the government attorney argued that the accused was a man of considerable influence and could abscond if granted bail, noting his arrest at the airport.

“He was apprehended just as he was about to board a flight with the renowned footballer,” the attorney stated.

The court was advised that while an agreement with a state government department was signed on December 12, contracts concerning food and beverages had been secured as early as November. The prosecutor contended that finalising such contracts prior to official sanction demonstrated the organiser’s intentions.

Representing Dutta, lawyer Soumyajit Raha argued that the event was coordinated by a professional company aimed at presenting a globally acclaimed footballer to the public.

He emphasized that the programme was executed in collaboration with the administration and all pertinent departments, adding that the company had successfully handled numerous international events in the past.

Raha further stated that a 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) was issued by Bidhannagar Police on November 7 and claimed that no regulations were breached by the organising company.

He also informed the court that similar events were effectively conducted in Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad after the Kolkata programme, reiterating, “We are leading 3-0.”

The defence attorney also mentioned that Messi was provided with Z-category security and that intelligence agencies had not indicated any prior warnings of unrest. He pointed out that approximately Rs 22 crore had already been frozen and highlighted Dutta’s health issues, claiming he suffered from various ailments.

The lawyer maintained that Dutta had no plans to flee and was travelling to another state for an official event with the footballer.

As of now, police have recorded statements from 21 individuals regarding the case.

After considering the arguments from all parties, the court concluded that the investigation was at a pivotal stage and that granting bail at this juncture was inadvisable. Consequently, the bail request was denied, and Dutta was remanded to judicial custody until January 9.