Third notice issued to Aroop Biswas in Messi event case, asked to appear within 48 hours

Former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas has been served a third notice by Bidhannagar South Police Station in connection with the alleged irregularities surrounding the Lionel Messi event. Police have directed him to appear before investigators within 48 hours of receiving the notice. The latest summons comes after he failed to respond to two earlier notices issued during the course of the investigation.

The case stems from an FIR lodged on May 17 by event organizer Shatadru Dutta at Bidhannagar South Police Station. The complaint includes allegations of ticket black-marketing, extortion, criminal intimidation, security lapses, cheating, and fraud in connection with the event. Based on the FIR, police initially directed Aroop Biswas to appear before investigators on June 4. Prior to the scheduled appearance, he informed police that he was unwell and would be unable to attend for at least two weeks due to health reasons.

Police subsequently issued a second notice directing him to appear by 11 a.m. on June 8. Officers also pasted notices at his residence, stating that no medical documents or supporting records had been submitted to substantiate his claim of illness. Despite the notice, Aroop Biswas did not appear before investigators and did not send any formal communication through legal representatives regarding his absence.

The matter later reached the Calcutta High Court. On June 8, Justice Saugata Bhattacharya granted Aroop Biswas conditional protection from coercive action until August 17. The court directed him to surrender his passport to the Investigating Officer and prohibited him from leaving the jurisdiction of his local police station without prior permission. The court also ordered that police must provide at least 48 hours' notice before questioning him and directed him to cooperate fully with the investigation whenever summoned.

The High Court has scheduled the next hearing in the case for August 4 and instructed investigators to submit a report on the progress of the Messi event probe and any additional criminal cases registered against Aroop Biswas. The latest notice has been issued in accordance with the court's directions. Police are continuing their investigation into the allegations surrounding the event, while Aroop Biswas remains under the conditions imposed by the High Court.