Kolkata, 14 December (H.S.): Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Court on Sunday ordered 14-day police custody for Shatadru Dutta, the main organizer behind Lionel Messi's visit to Kolkata, following the massive chaos at Yuva Bharati Stadium. The bail application was rejected during the hearing.

As Shatadru was being brought to the court, slogans of Thief, thief were raised outside. Protesters even held up shoes in a show of defiance. This led to considerable tension outside the court. The police brought the situation under control with firm action.

Shatadru Dutta was the main organizer responsible for bringing Messi to Kolkata. He was arrested by the police at Kolkata airport on Saturday following the chaos at Yuva Bharati. The police have registered two cases and launched an investigation into the incident.

A suo motu case has been registered at Bidhannagar South Police Station. The case has been filed under sections 192, 324(4)(5), 326(5), 132, 121(2), 45, 46 of the BNS, along with charges of causing unrest, vandalism, spreading violence, and obstructing public safety. Several non-bailable sections have been invoked against Shatadru.

Shatadru's lawyer stated, The work of an organizer and event manager is of two types. He had a noble objective behind bringing Messi. But he became a victim of circumstances. His lawyer also claimed that Shatadru Dutta was not involved in any way in the vandalism at Yuva Bharati.

Furthermore, he placed the blame for the disorder on the spectators. According to him, The way the spectators threw chairs and protested through vandalism is not right. On the other hand, members of the inquiry committee inspected the Yuva Bharati Stadium on Sunday. The committee was formed under the direction of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following the incident and is headed by retired judge Asim Kumar Roy. The committee includes Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, and Sports Secretary Rajesh Sinha, among others. The committee members jointly inspected the entire stadium.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey