The political climate in West Bengal intensified on Tuesday as Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition and BJP leader, approached the Calcutta High Court to request a court-monitored and impartial inquiry into the violence that broke out during a prominent Lionel Messi event at Salt Lake Stadium on December 13, 2025.
In separate petitions presented to a division bench led by Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Pal and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen on December 18, Adhikari and two senior advocates urged the court to assume control of the investigation from state authorities and government-appointed panels, citing allegations of administrative failures and lapses in safety.
Adhikari’s argument highlights that, although marketed as a private event, the Messi appearance was facilitated by state resources and public support, including police presence and the extensive use of state infrastructure. He claimed that the preferential entry granted to political dignitaries and VVIPs came at the detriment of regular ticket holders, resulting in widespread discontent. The petition asserts that this represented a failure of constitutional governance that necessitates judicial oversight.
The BJP leader has called for the investigation to be carried out by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the purview of the high court, and has requested directives for ticket refunds and compensation for attendees.
Additionally, two other PILs filed by senior advocates Sabyasachi Chattopadhyay and Mainak Ghoshal support Adhikari’s plea. They also call for an investigation by central agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), noting possible financial discrepancies in ticketing and event management.
This application is set against the backdrop of chaotic scenes at the Salt Lake stadium, where disgruntled spectators tore up seats and threw objects after Messi’s brief appearance, which reportedly lasted about 20 minutes, leaving many ticket holders unable to see the football star.
Previously, the state government formed a three-member inquiry panel headed by retired Justice Ashim Kumar Ray to investigate the incident.
The court’s decision regarding the transfer of the investigation and the subsequent steps for the petitions is anticipated later this week.
