Satadru Dutta, the primary organiser of Lionel Messi’s ill-fated “GOAT India Tour” event in Kolkata, has made startling disclosures to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
Dutta, who remains in police custody, claimed that the total expenditure for the footballer’s visit was ₹100 crore, of which Messi was paid ₹89 crore, with ₹11 crore going to the Indian government as tax.
The “Influential Person” Allegation
Dutta told investigators that the meticulous security plan for the December 13 event at Salt Lake Stadium collapsed due to political interference.
Access Violation: Initially, only 150 ground passes were authorized. However, Dutta alleged that a “very influential person” arrived and “overpowered” the organizing team, forcing the issuance of over 450 ground passes.
Flow-Chart Disruption: This influx of VVIPs and their acquaintances on the pitch reportedly “disturbed the entire flow-chart” of the program, making it impossible to manage the crowd.
Minister Resigns: While Dutta did not name the individual in public statements, visuals showed West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas in close physical proximity to Messi. Following allegations that he used his position to allow unauthorized access to the pitch, Biswas resigned on Tuesday to ensure an “impartial probe.”
Messi’s “Unhappiness” and Early Departure
The SIT revealed that Messi’s foreign security team had explicitly warned organisers that the footballer “did not like being touched on the back or being hugged.”
The Breach: Despite public announcements, celebrities and officials were seen surrounding and embracing the Argentine legend.
Early Exit: Visibly uncomfortable with the physical contact and the unruly group on the field, Messi left the stadium much earlier than his scheduled appearance time.
- Fan Fury: The brief appearance left fans—who paid between ₹4,000 and ₹18,000 for tickets—enraged, leading to the vandalism of stadium bucket seats and the throwing of water bottles onto the pitch.
Financial Probe: ₹20 Crore Frozen
The SIT, led by senior IPS officers Piyush Pandey and Supratim Sarkar, is also looking into suspected financial irregularities.
Unaccounted Cash: Sources suggest that between ₹10 lakh and ₹30 lakh was allegedly charged in cash for private photos with Messi, with no official records maintained.
Bank Accounts: More than ₹20 crore has been frozen in Dutta’s bank accounts. While he claims this is revenue from ticket sales in Kolkata and Hyderabad, the SIT is verifying the source of the funds.
Ticket Discrepancy: Investigators found that while only half of the stadium’s 66,000 seats were officially “sold,” the venue appeared much fuller, suggesting the distribution of thousands of unaccounted-for “complimentary” passes.
The SIT Team
| Officer | Designation |
| Piyush Pandey | Senior IPS Officer |
| Javed Shamim | Senior IPS Officer |
| Supratim Sarkar | ADG South Bengal |
| Muralidhar | Barrackpore CP |