Lionel Messi GOAT Tour controversy – Former WB Sports Minister Aroop Bis was summoned by the police again

Former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas has been summoned by the police again in connection with a case related to the chaos during the GOAT India Tour – involving Lionel Messi – at the Salt Lake Stadium last year after he failed to appear before investigators on Friday.

Aroop, who had earlier cited health problems and stated that he was unable to attend the summons, has been asked to appear before investigators on June 8.

“We have asked Aroop Biswas to appear before our officers on June 8. A notice has been served on him today,” said an officer from Bidhannagar Dakshin police station.

He was asked to appear before investigators by June 5 after an FIR was filed against him by event organizer Shatadru Dutta, accusing the former minister of black marketing of tickets, extortion, criminal intimidation and cheating in connection with the high-profile December 2025 football event.

The event at Salt Lake Stadium on December 13 was descended into chaos after a large number of people entered the venue, allegedly without valid entry, leading to security breaches and crowd disorder.

Many spectators who had bought expensive tickets complained that they could not see Messi properly and enjoy the program due to overcrowding and mismanagement.

Messi quickly left the ground amid the commotion, after which sections of angry spectators vandalized parts of the stadium.

The controversy had created a political storm at the time, with fingers pointed at Aroop for alleged lapses in planning and crowd management.

Shatadru was subsequently arrested by police and spent 37 days in custody before being granted bail. After his release, he blamed Aroop for the collapse of the event and the losses suffered by the organisers.

Published on June 7, 2026