FIR Lodged Against Former West Bengal Minister Aroop Biswas Over Messi Kolkata Controversy

Police in Kolkata on Thursday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against former West Bengal minister Aroop Biswas, accusing him of intimidation and coercion linked to the chaotic "Messi match" that sparked public outrage last month.

The complainant, identified as the event’s primary organiser, alleges that Biswas, then a minister in charge of sports and youth affairs, repeatedly threatened to stall the match unless the organiser complied with demands that included a hefty, unexplained levy on the venue and a share of ticket revenues.

According to the FIR, the organiser approached the minister’s office to seek official clearances for the exhibition match featuring football legend Lionel Messi. Instead of routine assistance, he says he was met with "unwarranted pressure" and veiled threats of administrative action.

"I was told that unless I paid a sum of money, the police would not allow the crowd to gather, and the match would be cancelled," the organiser told police. "I felt cornered, and when I refused, I received a call saying I would face ‘serious consequences’ for disrupting the government's plans."

Biswas, who served as West Bengal's Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs and Information Technology until a cabinet reshuffle in early 2024, has denied all allegations. In a brief statement, his legal team called the FIR "politically motivated" and asserted that the minister had merely facilitated the event’s logistical approvals.

The Messi exhibition, promoted as a goodwill tour to boost football’s popularity ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, turned into a public relations nightmare. Fans crowded the Eden Gardens stadium, but the match was abruptly halted after a short warm‑up due to security concerns and alleged breaches of crowd‑control protocols.

Local media reported that the event’s promoters had failed to secure necessary permissions for large‑scale fireworks and sound systems, prompting police to intervene. The fiasco left many ticket‑holders angry and sparked debates over the politicisation of sports events in the state.

Legal experts say that if the FIR holds merit, Biswas could face charges under sections of the Indian Penal Code related to criminal intimidation and abuse of official position. However, they caution that proving "coercion" in a politically charged environment may prove challenging.

For now, the case remains under investigation, and Biswas has not been taken into custody. The organiser, meanwhile, has said he will pursue further legal recourse if he feels the FIR does not fully address the pressures he endured.