Legal Setback for Aroop Biswas: Calcutta HC Denies Urgent Hearing in Messi GOAT Tour Row

The former state minister faces mounting legal pressure as the court refuses to fast-track his plea against an FIR linked to the controversial football event.

The fallout from the high-profile Messi GOAT tour in Kolkata continues to haunt former state minister Aroop Biswas, who hit a legal wall at the Calcutta HC on Monday. Seeking to quash an FIR lodged against him for alleged criminal intimidation, the former minister’s legal team pushed for an urgent hearing, citing the looming threat of arrest. Justice Saugata Bhattacharya’s bench remained unmoved, directing the petitioner to follow the standard, regular legal process rather than jumping the queue.

Representing the former minister, senior advocate Kishore Datta argued that the case was steeped in political motivation. He questioned why an event that took place six months ago had suddenly become the grounds for an FIR against his client on May 30. Datta drew the court’s attention to the arrest of the minister's brother, Swarup Biswas, as proof that the situation required immediate intervention. "There is extreme urgency," Datta submitted, noting that the former minister was expected to appear before the Salt Lake Police Station.

The court, however, remained firm. Declining to treat the matter as an exceptional emergency, the bench observed that allowing such requests would open the floodgates for similar petitions, effectively disrupting the orderly presentation of cases. Instead of entertaining the request for an early hearing to avoid custodial action, the court pointed the petitioner toward a more conventional path, suggesting that Biswas should move for anticipatory bail if he feared immediate detention.

The Bigger Picture

The friction surrounding this case highlights the growing intersection of high-stakes sports event management and local power dynamics in West Bengal. What began as an ambitious attempt to bring football royalty to the city has devolved into a messy legal battle, leaving organizers and local figures locked in a cycle of accusations. By refusing to expedite the matter, the court has signaled a preference for procedural rigour over the political heat that often surrounds such high-profile figures. For the former minister, the path forward is now clear: he must navigate the standard judicial process to secure protection, a move that will likely keep this controversy in the headlines for weeks to come.

The case traces its roots back to the December event at Salt Lake Stadium, which promised a grand spectacle but has since become a source of sustained litigation. As the legal tug-of-war continues, the incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly public-facing events can become liabilities when they sour, drawing in everyone from organizers to high-ranking officials. With the court insisting on the regular course of law, the focus now shifts to whether the former minister can secure the legal cover he seeks or if the police will proceed with their investigation as planned.