Messi tour case: Bengal ex-sports minister remains elusive as police serve third notice

Kolkata, June 13 (IANS) Former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas has once again been summoned by police in connection with the alleged mismanagement and financial irregularities linked to Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour event held on December 14 last year.

According to police officials on Saturday, the Bidhannagar South Police Station has issued a fresh notice directing Biswas to appear before investigators within 48 hours of receiving the summons. This is the third notice served on the former minister in the case. Aroop Biswas has reportedly gone into hiding following the police move.

Police sources said Biswas, a senior Trinamool Congress leader, has so far failed to comply with earlier summonses. Investigators are now awaiting his response to the latest notice, which comes amid reports that he has remained unavailable to police officials.

The case stems from a complaint lodged on May 17 by Satadru Dutta, the principal organiser of Messi’s GOAT India Tour. In his FIR filed at Bidhannagar South Police Station, Dutta accused Biswas of involvement in alleged ticket black-marketing, extortion, criminal intimidation, fraud, and lapses in event security. The complaint was registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Following the FIR, police initially directed Biswas to appear before investigators on June 4. However, before the scheduled date, the former minister informed police that he was suffering from health issues and would be unable to appear for at least two weeks.

Investigators were not convinced by the explanation and subsequently directed him to appear at the police station by 11 a.m. on June 8. A day before the deadline, the police pasted notices at his south Kolkata residence, stating that he had not furnished any medical documents or reports to substantiate his claim of illness.

Despite the directive, Biswas did not appear before investigators on June 8. Police sources said neither he nor his legal representatives formally informed the police about his absence.

Meanwhile, Biswas had moved a Barasat court seeking anticipatory bail in the case, but his plea was rejected. He later approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking protection from coercive action. The High Court granted him conditional relief and directed police to provide 48 hours’ notice before requiring his appearance.

At the same time, the court allowed the investigation to continue unhindered while restraining police from taking coercive steps, including arrest, without following due process. The court has also barred Biswas from leaving West Bengal without prior permission.

With a third summons now issued, attention is focused on whether the former minister will finally appear before investigators and cooperate with the ongoing probe.

–IANS

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