pil-in-calcutta-hc-over-stadium-vandalism-during-messi-s-visit

Following the incidents of vandalism at the Yuva Bharati (Salt Lake) Stadium on Saturday amid chaos surrounding Argentine football icon Lionel Messi’s Kolkata visit, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Calcutta High Court on Monday, triggering heightened administrative and legal activity.

 

The PIL was filed by advocate Billadal Bhattacharya. Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, after perusing the application, granted permission to file the case. According to court sources, the matter is likely to come up for hearing as early as Tuesday before the Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Paul. The court’s initial observations on the legal aspects of the incident are therefore expected soon.

 

After the unrest, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the vandalism and identify those responsible. The police arrested the organiser of the event, Shatadru Dutta, on the charges of mismanagement and a Salt Lake court remanded him to police custody for 14 days on Sunday. The administration maintains that the SIT has been formed to ensure a comprehensive and focused investigation. However, the move has sparked a fresh legal controversy.

 

Advocate Sabyasachi Chatterjee has approached the Chief Justice’s Bench challenging the constitution of the SIT. In his plea, he questioned the necessity and justification for forming a special team and sought judicial scrutiny of the investigation process. Court sources indicated that this matter too may be heard within the week by the same Division Bench.

 

Meanwhile, police have taken action in the case. A suo motu case was registered on multiple charges, including vandalism of government property. On Monday, Bidhannagar South Police Station arrested two youths in connection with the incident. The arrested persons have been identified as Shubhrapratim Dey and Gaurav Basu. Their names reportedly surfaced during the investigation into the damage caused at the stadium.

 

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