Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Calcutta High Court extends Biswas's interim protection in Messi case
A very famous football player named Lionel Messi came to a big stadium in Kolkata, India, for a special event.
Lots of people paid a lot of money for tickets to see him.
But the stadium became crowded and messy, and many people could not see Messi at all.
Some people got so upset that they broke things in the stadium.
Messi had to leave very quickly to stay safe.
A government leader named Aroop Biswas was blamed by many people for the problems.
He had to stop being the Sports Minister because people were angry.
Now a court is looking into what happened.
The court has said the police cannot arrest him until the end of November.
A team of investigators is still trying to figure out exactly what went wrong that day.
The Calcutta High Court extended interim protection from arrest to former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas until November 30 in the Lionel Messi 'GOAT India Tour' event case.
The event was held at Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake on December 13, 2025, where crowd management issues caused chaos and Messi's early exit over security concerns.
Biswas, who accompanied Messi, was accused of blocking the view of high-priced ticket holders along with his close associates, prompting agitated spectators to vandalise the stadium.
Biswas resigned as Sports Minister amid severe criticism, and an independent committee investigation into his role is underway following a Calcutta High Court order.
The West Bengal Police recently sought additional time from the High Court to file its report on what happened at the Salt Lake Stadium that day.
- Who
- Aroop Biswas, former West Bengal Sports Minister, with footballer Lionel Messi and Justice Sougata Bhattacharya of the Calcutta High Court involved
- What
- The Calcutta High Court extended interim protection from coercive police action, including arrest, to Biswas until November 30 in the case over alleged irregularities at Messi's 'GOAT India Tour' event
- When
- The protection was extended on Tuesday; the event took place on December 13, 2025, and the previous protection was to end on August 17
- Where
- Calcutta High Court; the event was at Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake, Kolkata
- Why
- Due to alleged crowd management irregularities during the event, which caused chaos and Messi's early exit, with an ongoing investigation into Biswas's role
- Court
- Calcutta High Court (Justice Sougata Bhattacharya)
- Accused
- Aroop Biswas, former West Bengal Sports Minister
- Event
- Lionel Messi 'GOAT India Tour'
- Event date
- December 13, 2025
- Venue
- Yuva Bharati Krirangan, Salt Lake, Kolkata
- Protection extended till
- November 30
- Previous protection expiry
- August 17
- Investigation
- Independent committee; West Bengal Police report pending