Kolkata, 03 June (H.S.) : Former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas has been summoned by Bidhannagar City Police in connection with an investigation into alleged cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation and extortion linked to the controversial Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour event held at Salt Lake Stadium last year.

Police officials said Biswas has been asked to appear before the investigating officer at Bidhannagar South Police Station on June 4 and cooperate with the ongoing probe. According to police, he may report to the station at any time between the morning and afternoon.

The summons comes a day after Biswas moved a Barasat court seeking anticipatory bail in the case. The court has scheduled the matter for hearing on July 22.

An FIR was registered against Biswas and others on May 30 following a preliminary inquiry into a complaint filed by event organiser Satadru Dutta on May 17. In his complaint, Dutta alleged that Biswas demanded a large number of complimentary tickets and accreditation cards and threatened to disrupt the event if his demands were not met.

Dutta further claimed that around 22,000 complimentary tickets were forcibly taken and subsequently sold in the black market. He also accused the former minister of using his influence to facilitate the entry of unauthorised persons onto the pitch, which allegedly led to the harassment of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi during the event.

According to the organiser, the situation prompted Messi to leave the venue earlier than scheduled, disappointing thousands of spectators and contributing to unrest inside the stadium.

The event had witnessed significant disorder, leading to the arrest of several fans. Dutta himself was later arrested on the basis of a suo motu complaint filed by Bidhannagar Police, which accused him of mismanagement and organisational lapses during the high-profile event. He spent 38 days in judicial custody before securing release.

Sources said Dutta's complaint was initially submitted to Bidhannagar South Police Station on May 17 but was formally converted into an FIR on May 30 after he met senior state government officials.

Efforts to contact Aroop Biswas for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to phone calls or text messages. The investigation is ongoing.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh