Messi event organiser out on bail, but spectators yet to get refund

More than two months after chaos erupted at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan during an event featuring Argentina’s World Cup-winning star Lionel Messi, thousands of spectators are still waiting for ticket refunds. The December 13 programme, which had drawn massive crowds, descended into disorder, leaving many fans unable to see the football icon despite purchasing high-priced tickets.

Heavy VIP crowding and lack of crowd control allegedly led to a breakdown of security arrangements inside the stadium. Messi’s teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul also faced intense pressure amid the swelling crowd. As the situation worsened, security personnel escorted Messi and the players out of the venue without delay. Protests broke out among disappointed spectators, and incidents of vandalism were reported within the stadium premises.

In the immediate aftermath, then Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar stated that those who failed to see Messi should receive refunds and warned of legal action if payments were not returned. However, despite his retirement on January 31, there has been no visible progress in the refund process.

Event organiser Shatadru Dutta was arrested on the day of the incident and later granted interim bail on January 19. Since securing bail, he has not appeared publicly and remains unreachable. Meanwhile, the state-appointed inquiry committee and the Special Investigation Team argued in court in favour of refunding spectators, yet no concrete steps have been implemented.

Many spectators claim they paid between ₹12,000 and ₹16,000 for tickets but did not even catch a glimpse of Messi. With time passing and no refund in sight, frustration continues to grow among fans, raising doubts over whether they will ever recover their money.