West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas tendered his resignation on Tuesday following the government's order for an investigation into the chaotic events that marred Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour event at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium.
In a handwritten letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Biswas, who has borne the brunt of the criticism for the debacle, stated he was stepping down to ensure a "free and fair investigation" into the incident.
The resignation of Biswas, a powerful figure within the Trinamool Congress and a trusted aide of the Chief Minister, highlights the ruling party's determination to leave nothing to chance just months ahead of the crucial assembly elections.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accepted the resignation of Biswas. According to sources at Nabanna, the state secretariat, the resignation was accepted to ensure an impartial investigation into the incident. However, the Sports Department has not been handed over to any other minister for the time being. A written note issued from the Chief Minister’s Office stated that Mamata herself will hold charge of the Sports Department until the probe is completed.
"The inquiry committee, headed by retired Calcutta High Court judge Justice Asim Kumar Roy and comprising Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, has also recommended the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a comprehensive probe into the incident. The SIT will be led by four senior IPS officers— Piyush Pandey, Javed Shamim, Supratim Sarkar, and Muralidhar," said an official of the state government.
The Argentinian football star's India tour began on a disastrous note on Saturday after irate spectators, who had paid as much as ₹15,000 for tickets, ran riot and vandalised the Salt Lake stadium when Messi departed just 20 minutes into the event.
Spectators alleged that Messi was constantly surrounded by a throng of influential individuals and politicians like Biswas, effectively preventing ticket-paying fans from getting a clear glimpse of their idol.
Frustrated by their inability to see the icon, they responded by throwing bottles onto the ground and tearing up stadium seats. While Satadru Dutta, the event's chief organiser, was arrested, the fallout spread across social media. The incident has left the Trinamool Congress and the government red-faced ahead of the upcoming polls, with the BJP seizing the opportunity to criticise the state’s mismanagement.
Meanwhile, the government has already taken stringent action against several senior officials following a preliminary report submitted by an inquiry panel headed by Justice (Retd) Asim Kumar Roy. Rajeev Kumar, the Director General of Police (DGP), has been served a show-cause notice, seeking an explanation within 24 hours for the security lapses.
Similar notices have also been issued to the Bidhannagar police chief and the principal secretary of the sports department, while Deputy Commissioner of Police Aneesh Sarkar has been suspended.
Reacting to the developments, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said that resignation alone was not enough. He alleged that the chaos at the Messi event had caused immense suffering to the public. “The spectators endured emotional trauma, children were frightened, and the dreams and hard-earned money of ordinary people were shattered. Those responsible have brought shame upon Bengal and must be held accountable and arrested,” he said.
Also read: If BJP wins, Messi will return to Kolkata: Adhikari
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