Archive · 21 Jan 2026
Court Seeks Report on Messi, Maradona Statues
A court in Kolkata wants to know if two big statues of famous football players, Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, were built on government land without permission.
The court asked the city officials to explain why they built the statues and if they followed the rules.
Some people are upset because they think the statues were built where they shouldn't be.
The court gave the officials three weeks to explain and will hear more about it later.
A high court bench sought a report on the erection of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona statues in Lake Town.
The court directed the urban development department and South Dum Dum Municipality to explain the construction and potential violations.
The statues are alleged to be on government land, contravening a 2010 Supreme Court order.
The Messi statue was virtually unveiled by Messi himself on December 13, while the Maradona statue was unveiled by Maradona in 2017.
The court granted three weeks for affidavits and scheduled the next hearing in four weeks.
- Who
- High Court Division Bench led by Chief Justice Sujoy Paul
- What
- Sought a report on the erection of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona statues
- When
- During a hearing on Tuesday
- Where
- Kolkata, India
- Why
- To determine if the statues were erected on government land in violation of norms and a Supreme Court order
- Statues Involved
- Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona
- Location
- Lake Town, Kolkata
- Court
- High Court Division Bench
- Chief Justice
- Sujoy Paul
- Petitioner
- Advocate Arunangshu Chakraborty
- Respondents
- Urban Development Department, South Dum Dum Municipality
- Deadline for Affidavits
- Three weeks
- Next Hearing
- Four weeks from the order date