The Calcutta High Court has declined to intervene in the ongoing investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the alleged mismanagement and chaos that occurred during an event featuring Argentine football legend Lionel Messi at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13, 2025. The court made this decision on Monday, December 22, 2025, while hearing three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed in response to the event.
The PILs, including one filed by Suvendu Adhikari, sought to transfer the investigation to an independent or central agency, citing allegations of ticket profiteering, misuse of state machinery, and political shielding. Petitioners argued that the event, branded as the "GOAT India Tour," was effectively state-sponsored, with tickets allegedly being sold for between ₹5,000 and ₹15,000 each, along with the alleged misuse of the state emblem and VIP patronage. Concerns were also raised regarding the failure of crowd control, destruction of public property, and the suspected flow of unaccounted money, which the petitioners argued necessitated an independent probe.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen ruled that the state-appointed inquiry committee was prima facie valid, referencing a Gazette notification and Section 11 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, which empowers the state to constitute such panels. The court stated it was not inclined to interfere and halt the SIT probe at this stage.
The bench rejected the plea to halt the SIT probe, asserting that investigations are a statutory police function and that transferring the case to the CBI or another agency is only warranted in rare instances where clear evidence of bias or impropriety exists. The court also stated that the SIT officers' ranks being lower than those of senior officials under scrutiny was insufficient to infer a lack of impartiality, invoking the doctrine of necessity. The court observed that the investigation and inquiry are in the preliminary stages and that no material was presented to establish that the investigation or enquiry is prejudiced or tainted.
The Court directed the ACJM, Bidhannagar, to facilitate the organiser's vakalatnama and granted timelines for affidavits. The petitions are scheduled to be heard in February 2026.
The petitioners' legal representatives argued that a committee could not be validly appointed without an Assembly resolution and that SIT officers junior to those under scrutiny could not impartially investigate senior officials. They requested a court-monitored or central agency investigation and refunds for affected spectators.
Kalyan Bandopadhyay, Senior Counsel representing the state, contended that the Chief Minister promptly addressed the situation. Counsel also argued that the allegations were speculative and unsupported by material, while also seeking facilitation of vakalatnama due to the custody of the accused organiser.
