Messi Event Fiasco: Calcutta High Court Extends Aroop Biswas' Interim Protection Till November 30, Allows Probe To Continue

The Calcutta High Court has extended till November 30 the interim protection from coercive action granted to former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas in connection with the disruption during Lionel Messi's event at Salt Lake Stadium in December 2025.

Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya passed the order while hearing Biswas' plea seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings against him.

The Court also clarified that the pendency of the quashing petition would not come in the way of the investigating agency continuing with its investigation or filing its report before the jurisdictional magistrate.

The matter has been posted for further hearing on November 17.

During Tuesday's hearing, the State placed before the Court two reports submitted pursuant to its earlier directions. One report was prepared by the Director General of Police, West Bengal, while the other was submitted by the Commissioner of Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate.

The Court thereafter continued the interim protection from coercive action until November 30 or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

The Bench was also informed that Biswas had appeared before the police on three occasions in compliance with the summons issued to him.

Court Earlier Questioned Why Kolkata Event Was Not Conducted Smoothly

While granting interim protection to Biswas on June 10, the Court had taken note of the manner in which the Kolkata event was conducted.

Justice Bhattacharyya had observed that similar programmes featuring the Argentine football star had been organised successfully in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi, while the Kolkata event had failed to proceed smoothly.

The Court had expressed concern over the failure to conduct the event properly, observing that the incident had left a "blot" on Kolkata's image as a city known for its football culture.

The Court had, at the time, also directed the Commissioner of Bidhannagar Police to conduct an independent inquiry into the circumstances in which the December 13, 2025 event could not be conducted properly.

The latest order keeps the interim protection in place while simultaneously making it clear that the investigation can proceed independently.

The Court's direction thus permits the investigating agency to continue its probe and place its findings before the jurisdictional magistrate, notwithstanding the pendency of Biswas' challenge before the High Court.

Case: Aroop Biswas v State Of West Bengal