kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata | June 22, 2026 : West Bengal Sports Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Arup Biswas is set to appear once again before the Bidhannagar Police on Monday in connection with the ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities, ticket black marketing, and mismanagement surrounding the event featuring Argentine football legend Lionel Messi at Salt Lake Stadium. The fresh summons has intensified speculation over possible new revelations in the high-profile case.

Arup Biswas appeared before the Bidhannagar South Police Station on Thursday, June 18, following conditional protection granted by the Calcutta High Court. He reached the police station at around 9:55 AM and was questioned by investigators for more than three hours. After leaving the police station around 1:15 PM in a car with black-tinted windows, he was instructed by the police to return again on June 22 with all relevant documents related to the case.

The controversy dates back to the mega event held at Salt Lake Stadium on December 13 last year, which witnessed the presence of Argentine football icon Lionel Messi, along with fellow football stars Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. Based on a complaint filed by the event’s principal organiser Shatadru Dutta, Bidhannagar Police registered an FIR against former Sports Minister Arup Biswas on May 17 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), accusing him of cheating, extortion, and criminal intimidation.

Shatadru Dutta’s allegations, Arup Biswas misused his official position and violated several stadium protocols. He alleged that the former minister was involved in the black marketing of nearly 22,000 tickets and acts of extortion related to the event. It is worth noting that on the day of the programme, several spectators who had purchased tickets at high prices reportedly created widespread vandalism inside the stadium after failing to get a proper view of Lionel Messi. Following allegations of mismanagement during the event, Shatadru Dutta himself was arrested during the then Trinamool Congress government’s tenure and spent 37 days in jail.

Arup Biswas has strongly denied all allegations made against him. He has maintained that he had no involvement in any financial transactions related to the event. Earlier, on June 5, he sought a two-week extension for questioning, citing health issues as the reason for his inability to appear before the police.

The case, organiser Shatadru Dutta recently claimed that Lionel Messi’s own communication team had written a letter to Bidhannagar Police, directly holding the former Sports Minister responsible for the chaotic situation inside the stadium. He further claimed that the letter had cleared him of allegations of mismanagement. However, Bidhannagar Police has not yet made any official statement regarding the authenticity or contents of the alleged communication from Messi’s team.

Arup Biswas faces another round of interrogation on Monday, political circles, football fans, and the sporting community are closely watching whether the investigation uncovers fresh evidence or leads to further legal action in the sensational Messi event controversy.