The Calcutta High Court has declined to intervene at this stage in the investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the chaos during Lionel Messi’s event at Salt Lake Stadium on December 13. A division bench, led by Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, noted that the inquiry is still in its preliminary phase and no evidence has been presented to suggest that the investigation is flawed or biased.

Petitioners in three PILs had sought the transfer of the probe to the CBI and a refund of ticket prices, following a disruption at the event that prevented some spectators from seeing Messi, as others jostled around him on the field. The court rejected requests for interim relief, stating it would not interfere with the SIT probe at this stage. Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, part of the bench, added that there was no evidence to suggest any conflict of interest on the part of the SIT.

The court clarified that investigations cannot be transferred to the CBI or another agency simply because allegations are made; such steps are only warranted in rare cases where clear evidence shows the investigation is compromised. The bench directed the state government and the event organiser to file affidavits opposing the petitioners’ claims within four weeks, allowing the petitioners two weeks to reply. The cases will be heard again starting February 16.

During the hearing, West Bengal government counsel said the state did not sell tickets, as the event was privately organised, and stated that the SIT was conducting the investigation diligently. The police had issued a show-cause notice to the state’s DGP, and the event organiser, Satadru Dutta, was arrested shortly after the incident. Dutta’s lawyer noted that they were unaware how spectators had crowded around Messi, as police managed entry points, and added that similar events in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi were conducted smoothly.

Petitioners’ lawyers questioned the source of funds for the event and argued for a probe by a central agency. They also noted that the state’s enquiry committee was administrative, not judicial, though a gazette notification confirmed its formation. The government counsel stated that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had expressed regret after the incident and had set up a committee including a retired high court judge and senior officials.