TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee. File
| Photo Credit: Manvender Vashist Lav
Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday (December 17, 2025), defended West Bengal Chief Minister and government over the Salt Lake Stadium fiasco in Kolkata last week during football legend Lionel Messi’s visit. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari was not allowed to enter the stadium on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) to assess the damage.
The National General Secretary of Trinamool Congress said the incident at the Messi event was unexpected and had lapses from both the organisers and the police managing the event.
“Within one hour of the chaos, the Chief Minister publicly apologised on her social media handle. I do not think any other CM in the country has set an example like this, where she has the courtesy to apologise to the people,” Mr. Banerjee said. He also added that the incident was unwanted and has brought shame to West Bengal on the world stage because of a section of people.
Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigns over chaos at Lionel Messi event at Salt Lake Stadium
Mr. Banerjee also accused that after the multiple stampedes in India in other States, no CM has ever apologised publicly. “But our CM does not have any ego, she recognised that the State Government had some negligence in the incident… Due to some people’s overenthusiasm, the common people who bought tickets with their hard-earned money could not see Messi,” Mr. Banerjee added. He assured that the TMC government will take action against every person responsible for the chaos.
On Wednesday (December 17, 2025), Mr. Adhikari visited the Salt Lake Stadium (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan) to assess the damage at the venue of the Messi event. He and his party followers circled around the stadium premises but were stopped from entering.
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“We are MLAs, our property was destroyed, we will not go and see that? … At least ₹300 crore has been trailed here. It’s a financial crime as well. They should be investigated under the money-laundering act,” Mr. Adhikari said. He said this in relation to the debate over the ticket sales of the event and the rising demand for refunds from spectators.
He added that they want an independent investigation into the incident by a team which does not have any influence from the State Government.
The four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was formed on Tuesday (December 16, 2025) to investigate the chaos at the Messi event also visited the stadium on Wednesday morning (December 17, 2025). They are looking into the role of the organiser of the event Satadru Dutta, who is already under arrest, and people who vandalised the stadium.
Seven people have already been arrested by the local police in relation to the vandalism that unfolded last week. Six were arrested before, and Bidhannagar South Police on Wednesday (December 17, 2025) arrested the seventh person.
So far State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas on Tuesday (December 16, 2025) resigned over the chaos at the Messi event after he drew massive criticism when his photos at the events went viral on social media where he is seen standing close to Messi.
The State Government on Tuesday (December 16, 2025) issued show-cause notices to top officials such as Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar, Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh Kumar and Principal Secretary of Youth Affairs and Sports department Rajesh Kumar Sinha.
Additionally, they also suspended Bidhannagar DCP Aneesh Sarkar and initiated departmental proceedings against him. However, Mr. Adhikari demanded the arrest of Mr. Biswas and Minister Sujit Bose, who were present at the Messi event.
Published – December 18, 2025 10:47 am IST
