Messi GOAT tour fiasco: Ex-state sports minister Aroop Biswas' urgent hearing plea rejected by Calcutta HC

NEW DELHI: The Calcutta high court on Monday refused to grant urgent listing to a petition filed by former West Bengal minister Aroop Biswas seeking the quashing of an FIR lodged against him by Messi GOAT Tour organiser Satadru Datta over allegations of criminal intimidation.The matter was mentioned before a bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya by senior advocate Kishore Datta, who argued that there was an urgent need for the case to be heard as Biswas feared arrest in connection with the FIR.The court, however, declined to hear the matter on an urgent basis and directed the petitioner to follow the regular legal process.During the hearing, Datta told the court that the allegations were linked to an event that had taken place around six months ago and questioned why the FIR had been registered only recently, according to Live Law."My Lord, there is extreme urgency in the matter. This event is from six months ago. The accused in the FIR has filed a case against me suddenly on May 30. I have to appear before Salt Lake Police Station," he submitted.Datta also informed the court that Biswas' brother, Swarup Biswas, had already been arrested in connection with the case and that the former minister feared similar action.The bench was not persuaded by the urgency plea and observed, "Move it in regular course. It will come in the usual presentation form."When the senior counsel sought an early hearing and raised concerns over possible arrest, the court suggested that Biswas approach the appropriate forum for anticipatory bail. "Very well then, move an anticipatory bail," the bench remarked.Datta argued that the FIR had been lodged after an unexplained delay of six months and questioned the absence of any preliminary inquiry before the case was registered. He further alleged that the proceedings were politically motivated."Everything is being done on political basis," he submitted.The court, however, reiterated that the matter should be processed in the ordinary course."Please file in regular course. It will come in the presentation form. These matters cannot be taken up urgently," the bench said.The court further observed, "We will be flooded with matters. All matters cannot be taken up like this."The case is linked to the controversy surrounding the Lionel Messi GOAT Tour event held at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata in December last year. The high-profile football event triggered widespread criticism after allegations of poor crowd management and security lapses. Angry spectators reportedly clashed with police and vandalised stadium property, causing damage estimated at around Rs 2 crore.The controversy later intensified when Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh claimed that then sports minister Aroop Biswas had offered to resign following the backlash over the event. However, no official confirmation regarding the resignation was issued.Recently, a 70-foot statue of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi was removed from Kolkata's Lake Town area. Public Works Department officials said the structure had become unstable after recent storms and was dismantled following safety concerns. Technical inspections reportedly found defects in the statue's foundation bolts, raising fears that it could collapse.The statue had been unveiled during Messi's visit to Kolkata in December and had become one of the most visible symbols associated with the football star's much-publicised tour of the city.