The Bidhannagar South Police Station has issued a third notice to former state Sports Minister Aroop Biswas in connection with the alleged irregularities surrounding the ‘Messi event’ case, after he reportedly skipped two previous summons.
According to police sources, Biswas has been directed to appear before investigating officers within 48 hours of receiving the notice. While he had earlier cited illness as the reason for his absence, he failed to submit any supporting medical documents to validate his claim.
The development comes shortly after the Calcutta High Court granted conditional legal protection to Biswas. On June 8, Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya ruled that no coercive action, including arrest, can be taken against him until August 17. However, the relief was accompanied by a set of stringent conditions.
The court directed Biswas to immediately surrender his passport to the Investigating Officer and barred him from leaving the jurisdiction of his local police station without prior permission. These measures effectively place his movements under legal restriction.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for August 4. The High Court has also made it clear that Biswas must fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation. It instructed that any summons issued to him must provide at least 48 hours’ notice—conditions that have now been complied with by the Bidhannagar South Police through the latest notice.
Investigating officers have further been asked to submit a detailed progress report to the court, outlining developments in the probe and clarifying whether any additional cases are pending against the former minister.
The case originates from an FIR filed at the Bidhannagar South Police Station by event organiser Shatadru Dutta, alleging large-scale mismanagement and financial irregularities during the Lionel Messi event held at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake. The controversy has intensified amid parallel legal troubles involving Biswas’s brother, Swarup Biswas, who has already been arrested in a separate case.
Facing mounting scrutiny, Biswas had approached the High Court seeking protection from arrest. While he has secured temporary relief, observers note that the strict conditions imposed by the court have significantly limited his freedom, placing him under close legal watch.
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