Messi tour case: Bengal ex-sports minister dodges third police notice
Synopsis
Three police summonses and still no show — former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas has reportedly gone into hiding as investigators pursue him over alleged fraud, extortion, and mismanagement linked to Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour. With anticipatory bail denied and the Calcutta High Court barring him from leaving the state, the pressure is building fast.
Key Takeaways
Bidhannagar South Police Station issued a third summons to former minister Aroop Biswas on 13 June 2025 , giving him 48 hours to appear.
Biswas, a senior TMC leader, has reportedly gone into hiding and failed to comply with two previous notices.
The FIR was filed on 17 May by event organiser Satadru Dutta , alleging ticket black-marketing, extortion, fraud, and security lapses at the Messi GOAT India Tour held on 14 December 2024 .
Biswas's anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a Barasat court ; the Calcutta High Court granted conditional relief but barred him from leaving West Bengal .
The High Court has directed police to give 48 hours' notice before requiring his appearance and restrained arrest without due process.
Former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas has reportedly gone into hiding after Bidhannagar South Police Station issued a third summons in the Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour case, directing him to appear before investigators within 48 hours of receiving the notice. The case centres on alleged financial irregularities and mismanagement surrounding the high-profile football event held on 14 December 2024.
The Third Notice
According to police officials, the fresh summons was served on Saturday, 13 June 2025, giving Biswas a 48-hour window to present himself before investigators. This is the third such directive issued in the case. Sources indicate that the former minister has remained unavailable to police and his whereabouts are currently unknown.
A Pattern of Non-Compliance
Biswas, a senior All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, had previously failed to honour two earlier summonses. Police first directed him to appear on 4 June, but he claimed illness and said he would be unable to appear for at least two weeks. Investigators, unconvinced by the explanation, set a fresh deadline of 11 am on 8 June. A day before that deadline, police pasted notices at his south Kolkata residence, noting that he had not submitted any medical documents to support his health claim. Biswas did not appear on 8 June, and neither he nor his legal representatives formally communicated with police about his absence.
The FIR and Allegations
The case originates from a complaint filed on 17 May by Satadru Dutta, the principal organiser of the GOAT India Tour. In his First Information Report (FIR) lodged at Bidhannagar South Police Station, Dutta accused Biswas of alleged involvement in ticket black-marketing, extortion, criminal intimidation, fraud, and lapses in event security. The FIR was registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Notably, the allegations involve a globally watched event featuring Lionel Messi, raising the political stakes considerably for the ruling TMC in West Bengal.
Court Interventions
Biswas had moved a Barasat court seeking anticipatory bail, but the plea was rejected. He subsequently approached the Calcutta High Court for protection from coercive action. The High Court granted conditional relief, directing police to provide 48 hours' notice before requiring his appearance. The court also permitted the investigation to continue unhindered while restraining police from making an arrest without following due process. Additionally, the court has barred Biswas from leaving West Bengal without prior permission.
What Happens Next
With a third summons now on record and anticipatory bail denied at the sessions level, investigators are watching closely whether Biswas will finally cooperate. Should he continue to evade the notice, police may escalate the matter before the Calcutta High Court, potentially seeking directions to compel his appearance. The case has drawn attention to broader questions of accountability around large-scale sporting events and the role of political figures in their organisation.
Point of View
A rejected anticipatory bail, and a High Court travel ban, yet investigators are still waiting at the door. The case exposes a familiar pattern in India where political proximity to power can slow, though rarely stop, due process. The GOAT India Tour was a prestige event for West Bengal; the allegations of ticket black-marketing and extortion at a globally watched Messi appearance are reputationally damaging for the TMC government. Each day Biswas remains out of reach, the political cost compounds.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is former West Bengal minister Aroop Biswas being summoned by police?
Aroop Biswas has been summoned in connection with alleged financial irregularities, ticket black-marketing, extortion, fraud, and security lapses at the Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour held on 14 December 2024. The FIR was filed by event organiser Satadru Dutta at Bidhannagar South Police Station on 17 May 2025.
How many police notices has Aroop Biswas received in the Messi tour case?
Biswas has received three summonses from Bidhannagar South Police Station. He failed to appear on both earlier occasions — citing illness for the first and providing no explanation for the second — and is now reportedly in hiding after the third notice.
What did the Calcutta High Court order in the Aroop Biswas case?
The Calcutta High Court granted Biswas conditional protection from coercive action, directing police to provide 48 hours' notice before requiring his appearance. The court also barred him from leaving West Bengal without prior permission while allowing the investigation to continue.
What charges are included in the FIR against Aroop Biswas?
The FIR filed by organiser Satadru Dutta accuses Biswas of alleged involvement in ticket black-marketing, extortion, criminal intimidation, fraud, and lapses in event security, registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
What happens if Aroop Biswas continues to evade the police summons?
If Biswas does not comply with the third notice, police may approach the Calcutta High Court seeking directions to compel his appearance. His anticipatory bail has already been rejected at the sessions court level, leaving him with limited legal cover against arrest if the High Court's conditions are breached.
