The Bidhannagar (South) Police Station in North 24 Parganas district has issued a fresh notice of interrogation to former West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas. He is being questioned regarding an FIR filed against him for vandalism at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake during Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour on December 13 last year. Biswas has been instructed to appear at the Bidhannagar (South) Police Station by Monday, marking the second notice sent by the police in this case.
On June 2, the Bidhannagar (South) Police Station initially sent a notice to Biswas, asking him to present himself at the police station on June 5. However, Biswas, on June 4, communicated to the police station, requesting a 14-day extension to appear for questioning due to medical reasons. Despite providing a medical certificate to support his health claims, a fresh notice was sent to Biswas on Sunday, requiring his presence for interrogation by June 8 afternoon.
Notably, Aroop Biswas’ younger brother Swarup Biswas has already been arrested on charges of corruption, extortion, and misconduct towards women in the Bengali film industry. Swarup Biswas was recently remanded to 14 days of police custody by a lower court in Kolkata. Aroop Biswas, a four-time Trinamool Congress legislator from the Tollygunge Assembly constituency, was defeated by BJP candidate Papiya Adhikari in the recent elections.
The FIR against Aroop Biswas was registered on May 30 following a complaint by the main organizer of the Messi event, Satadru Dutta, lodged on May 17. Dutta had accused Biswas and others, alleging the black-marketing of around 22,000 tickets for the Messi event. In response to the complaint, the Bidhannagar South Police Station initiated an investigation. The new Sports Minister, Nishith Pramanik, mentioned reviewing the Messi event situation upon assuming office.
