Kolkata: The West Bengal Police have widened their investigation into the large-scale chaos and vandalism that erupted during Lionel Messi’s G.O.A.T India Tour 2025 at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium. Acting on an FIR that estimated property damage worth over ₹2 crore, police on Monday issued summons to six event managers and senior associates involved in organising the show, while five spectators have been arrested on charges of rioting, vandalism, and assaulting police personnel.
The police are now focusing on understanding how severe lapses in security and crowd management occurred during what was expected to be one of India’s most high-profile sporting events of the year.
Organisers Under Scrutiny
According to officials, summons have been sent to Laltu Das, manager to the prime organiser Satadru Datta (already under arrest), along with Manali Bhattacharya, Supriya Dasgupta, Sambaran Karmakar, Aditya Das, and Amit Kumar, a senior executive of a food delivery company associated with the event.
All six have been directed to appear for questioning at the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate on Tuesday. Investigators will probe why Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were ignored and how serious crowd control failures were allowed to take place despite prior police warnings.
Violations of Pre-event Security Guidelines
Police sources revealed that Laltu Das had attended a pre-event coordination meeting on December 13, representing Satadru Datta, where police and event officials discussed detailed guidelines on crowd entry, exits, and security arrangements.
However, officers claim that most of these instructions were “blatantly violated.” One investigating officer said, “Unauthorized sale of food and beverages was allowed inside the venue. The same containers were later used by angry spectators as missiles against the police and security personnel.”
Arrests and Legal Action
So far, five spectators have been arrested after being identified through video footage and social media clips. The suspects have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for destruction of public property, obstruction of public servants in duty, and assault on personnel in uniform.
A senior official said-
“We have sufficient video evidence, and more identifications are underway. Preliminary findings suggest that several spectators were allowed entry without proper ticket verification, which led to uncontrolled overcrowding.”
Prime Organiser Already Behind Bars
The prime organiser, Satadru Datta, was arrested on Saturday — hours after the chaos unfolded inside the stadium. He faces charges of overselling tickets, violating safety norms, and gross negligence in event management.
Following his arrest, investigators have turned their focus toward other associates and vendors responsible for logistics, hospitality, food services, and stage management. Police are also verifying whether any contractual or financial irregularities occurred in the lead-up to the event.
₹2 crore Loss and Mounting Criticism
According to police, the vandalism caused extensive damage to stadium infrastructure, including chairs, gates, barricades, and advertising panels. Preliminary assessments by the state sports department indicate losses exceeding ₹2 crore.
Security forces, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), had to be deployed to restore order as spectators clashed with police and event staff. Several videos circulating online showed frustrated fans shouting slogans and damaging property, alleging poor visibility, disorganised seating, and lack of basic amenities such as drinking water.
Next Steps in the Probe
The Bidhannagar Police have stated that once all six summoned officials are questioned, the investigation will move toward fixing accountability. Authorities are also examining whether there was unauthorised overselling of tickets beyond the stadium’s capacity.
A senior officer remarked-
“This was not just an entertainment show — it was an international event. The lapses that occurred are unacceptable, and those responsible will be held accountable.”
Forensic and cyber teams have been tasked with analysing digital evidence, including CCTV footage, drone visuals, and social media posts. Police have not ruled out the possibility of further arrests in the coming days.
