Messi event chaos probe challenged in Calcutta HC, PILs seek court-monitored investigation

The legal battle over the investigation into the massive chaos during Lionel Messi’s event at the Yuva Bharati Stadium in Salt Lake has intensified, with multiple petitions filed in the Calcutta High Court. On Monday, two public interest litigations and a separate general petition challenged the inquiry committee formed by the West Bengal government, alleging it lacks legal authority to conduct an impartial probe.

The state government had constituted a committee headed by retired Justice Asim Kumar Roy, with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty as members, to investigate the incident. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari approached the High Court questioning the legitimacy of this panel, arguing that it cannot conduct a fair and effective investigation. Advocate Sabyasachi Chattopadhyay also placed similar concerns before the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujay Pal and Justice Parthasarathi Sen.

Both petitions sought the formation of a separate, court-monitored investigation committee, with Suvendu Adhikari specifically pressing for judicial supervision of the probe. The division bench accepted both public interest litigations and is expected to hear them later this week.

Meanwhile, another petition filed by Mainak Ghoshal demanded a court-monitored investigation along with a full refund of ticket money to spectators. The plea also alleged financial irregularities, sought investigation by central agencies, and called for compensation for losses incurred at the stadium, further escalating the legal and political stakes around the incident.