Messi India Tour Organiser Denied Bail, Sent To 14-day Police Custody Over Kolkata Chaos

Satadru Dutta, the main organiser of the Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour, was denied bail by a court on Sunday and remanded to 14 days of police custody in connection with the chaos, vandalism and alleged mismanagement at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.

Court Sends Organiser To Custody

Dutta was produced before the Bidhannagar court a day after his arrest and was sent to police custody for questioning over alleged lapses in planning and crowd management. Investigators are probing whether inadequate coordination between organisers, security agencies and authorities contributed to the breakdown of order at the packed venue.

Police confirmed that Dutta was detained at Kolkata airport while travelling to Hyderabad after the Kolkata leg of the tour. An FIR was registered following damage to stadium property and concerns over public safety.

Event Marred By Crowd Anger

What was billed as a marquee football spectacle on December 13 quickly spiralled into chaos after Messi’s brief and tightly guarded appearance. Large sections of the crowd, many of whom had paid premium prices and travelled long distances, were unable to see the star due to the heavy presence of politicians, VVIPs and security personnel near the pitch.

As resentment grew, spectators breached barriers and damaged seating areas, forcing Messi to leave the venue earlier than scheduled. In the aftermath, the organiser reportedly assured officials that ticket refunds would be issued to disappointed fans.

State Orders High-Level Probe

The West Bengal government has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. A three-member committee led by a retired Calcutta High Court judge visited the stadium to examine the scale of damage and reconstruct the sequence of events.

The panel inspected access routes, security arrangements and crowd movement zones, documenting broken chairs, twisted barricades and damaged infrastructure. Officials halted clean-up operations to allow a detailed assessment as part of the investigation.

Political Reaction And Sports Body Concerns

As Dutta was produced in court, political workers staged protests outside, accusing the organisers of misleading spectators. The All India Football Federation also expressed concern, pointing to serious crowd management failures at an event attended by nearly 50,000 people.

Tour Moves On To Mumbai

Despite the controversy in Kolkata, Messi’s India tour has continued. After visiting Hyderabad, where he interacted with children at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, the football star is set to arrive in Mumbai next. He is scheduled to appear at the Wankhede Stadium for a celebrity football match and a fashion charity event, as organisers seek to keep the remainder of the tour on track.