Calcutta High Court has refused to interfere with the ongoing probe by the West Bengal SIT and the Inquiry Commission into the Lionel Messi event row. The Court’s decision allows both investigating bodies to continue examining the recent controversies.
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court declined to issue any interim order for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the disturbances that occurred recently at Salt Lake Stadium during football icon Lionel Messi’s visit.
A Division Bench comprised of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen noted that both the police investigation and an inquiry led by a former High Court judge are still in their preliminary stages.
No convincing evidence was presented to the court indicating that these investigations or inquiries are flawed.
The Court stated,
“Hence at this stage, we are not inclined to interfere and stay the investigation/enquiry,”
Regarding the establishment of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the State, the Court highlighted that the right to investigate is a statutory prerogative of the police. It emphasized that a probe cannot automatically be assigned to the CBI simply upon request by a party involved.
The Court remarked,
“It could not be established that members of SIT had any interest in the event in question and for this reasons also, we are not inclined to interfere into investigation at this stage. This is trite that investigation/enquiry cannot be directed to be transferred to CBI or to any other agency on mere asking or merely because a party has leveled allegations,”
The Court also pointed out that Section 11 of the Commissions of Enquiry Act, 1952 provides sufficient authority for the State government to form a committee.
It added,
“Thus, prima facie we are unable to hold that appointment of enquiry committee by said Gazette is bad in law. Thus, on this account, the question of granting interim relief does not arise,”
These comments were made in an interim order concerning petitions that called for an impartial and court-monitored investigation into the incident that occurred on December 13.
According to media reports, frustrated fans at Messi’s event in Kolkata vandalized seats and hurled objects onto the pitch after finding it difficult to catch a good view of the star despite paying hefty entry fees.
The BBC reported that when Messi appeared to walk around the pitch, he was obscured by a large crowd of officials and celebrities.
The report noted,
“When the Argentina and Inter Miami forward was whisked away early by security after around 20 minutes, elements of the crowd turned hostile,”
The State government has set up an inquiry committee headed by retired Justice Ashim Kumar Ray to investigate the incident. Additionally, a SIT comprising four IPS officers is looking into the criminal case connected to the matter.
Among those who approached the Court is Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari, who alleged serious administrative failures, state complicity, and a breakdown of constitutional governance regarding the high-profile public event at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan.
He stated,
“Though projected as a private initiative, the event was conducted with active involvement and facilitation of the State and its instrumentalities, as evident from the deployment of State police machinery, use of public infrastructure and preferential access granted to political functionaries, dignitaries, celebrities and family members of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, to the exclusion and detriment of ordinary ticket-holding citizens.”
Adhikari has requested that an impartial SIT supervised by a High Court judge conduct the inquiry, along with monitoring by the High Court. He also called for a refund for ticket holders and compensation for the distress caused.
Similarly, social worker Mayukh Biswas has requested investigations by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the event organizer, Satadru Dutta, as well as two ministers from the West Bengal government.
Also Read: Stadium Stampede: Karnataka HC to Hear RCB, DNA Pleas Against FIRs on June 10
Earlier, On Monday, the Court dismissed the petitioners’ requests for interim relief and scheduled a hearing for February 16, 2026. However, it issued notices to the State and the event organizer, requiring a response to the petitions.
The Court ordered,
“An arguable case is made out, accordingly, the State Government and organizer are directed to file their Affidavit-in-Opposition in four weeks. Exception/Affidavit-in-Reply be filed within two weeks therefrom,”
Senior Advocates Billwadal Bhattacharyya and Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya, along with advocate Sabyasachi Chatterjee, represented the petitioners, while Senior Advocate Kalyan Bandopadhyay acted on behalf of the State.
Deputy Solicitor General Rajdeep Mazumder appeared for the Union of India, and Senior Advocate Indranil Roy represented a private respondent.
Click Here to Read More Reports On Stadium
Case Title: Suvendu Adhikari and another vs The State of West Bengal and others.