After Messi Fiasco, Mamata Takes Sports Ministry Charge
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Kolkata
- Dec 16, 2025
- 537
West Bengal Sports Minister Arup Biswas has stepped down from his post following the large-scale vandalism and chaos that erupted during Argentine football legend Lionel Messi’s event at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on December 13. Biswas tendered his resignation to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who accepted it on Tuesday. Until a new Sports Minister is appointed, Banerjee will hold the additional charge.
Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh stated in a Facebook post that Biswas had formally requested the Chief Minister to relieve him of his responsibilities as Sports Minister. Ghosh also shared a copy of the resignation letter, though it was not issued on official letterhead.
In response to the incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered strict administrative action. Show-cause notices have been served on the Bidhannagar Police Commissioner, the Director General of Police, and the Principal Secretary of the Sports Department, Rajesh Kumar Sinha. A four-member Special Investigation Team has been constituted to probe the lapses, and accountability will be fixed based on its findings.
Further action has been taken against senior officials linked to the venue. The services of Salt Lake Stadium (VYBK) CEO D.K. Nandan have been terminated with immediate effect.
Lionel Messi was in India on a three-day visit and arrived in Kolkata at around 2:30 a.m. on December 13. Later that morning, he virtually inaugurated a 70-foot-tall statue of himself in the city. Although Messi was scheduled to remain at the Salt Lake Stadium for nearly an hour, he departed after just 22 minutes.
His early exit triggered outrage among fans, leading to vandalism inside the stadium, with chairs being thrown and a stampede-like situation unfolding. The state government later issued an apology for the incident.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Javed Shamim confirmed that the main event organiser, Satadru Dutta, has been arrested. Organisers have also assured that ticket money will be refunded. The All India Football Federation clarified that it had no association with the event.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has sought a comprehensive report from the state government on the preparations and conduct of the event. The Governor took cognisance of complaints from fans who contacted Raj Bhavan, alleging that exorbitant ticket prices prevented many from attending the programme. Following numerous phone calls and emails from aggrieved fans, the Governor formally requested a detailed report on the matter.