Messi Tour Organiser Refused Bail, Remanded to Police Custody Over Kolkata Chaos

December 14, 2025

Kolkata: Satadru Dutta, the chief organiser and promoter of Lionel Messi’s G.O.A.T. Tour of India, has been denied bail and sent to 14-day police custody following chaos and violence at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium during the football star’s visit on Saturday.

Chaos During Messi’s Stadium Appearance

Lionel Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul, arrived at Salt Lake Stadium to a massive turnout of fans eager to catch a glimpse of the Argentine icon. However, the excitement quickly spiralled into chaos. When Messi appeared on the ground, he was surrounded by politicians and dignitaries, leaving fans—many of whom had paid up to ₹14,000 for tickets—unable to see him. Frustration soon boiled over, with sections of the crowd booing officials and hurling chairs and bottles.

Organiser Arrested After Event Turns Violent

As the situation worsened, Satadru Dutta repeatedly appealed to the crowd over the public address system to clear the area around Messi. “Please leave him alone. Please vacate the ground,” he pleaded, but his appeals went unheeded. Soon after, security personnel rushed Messi out of the stadium, and Dutta was arrested in connection with the disorder.

Court Denies Bail, Sends Dutta to Custody

Dutta was produced before the Bidhannagar Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM), where his lawyer sought bail, claiming he had been falsely implicated and that the arrest had damaged his reputation, particularly in front of Messi. The police opposed the plea, arguing that the organiser was responsible for crowd management and security arrangements. Citing preliminary findings of mismanagement and inadequate planning, the court denied bail and remanded Dutta to 14-day police custody to allow further investigation, evidence collection and identification of co-accused.