Who Is Satadru Dutta? Lionel Messi's Kolkata Event Organiser Arrested After Chaos At Studium

Satadru Dutta, the organiser of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi’s Kolkata event, was arrested after the World Cup-winning captain was forced to leave the field early due to widespread chaos at the Salt

Lake Stadium on Saturday.

The Salt Lake Stadium turned into a spectacle of unbridled chaos as thousands of fans gathered to see the football superstar, paying for tickets ranging from Rs 4,800 to a whopping Rs 25,000. Put off by poor event management, some fans reportedly threw bottles and chairs from the stands in frustration after they could not see Messi, and proceeded to barge into the grounds.

The short duration of Messi’s visit, combined with the heavy presence of security and organisers around him, prevented fans from catching a proper glimpse of the football icon. The chaotic situation sparked criticism from political circles and social media users, highlighting concerns about event planning and crowd safety at large gatherings.

Who Is Satadru Datta?

Stating that it was a dark day for the sports-loving people of Kolkata, Governor CV Ananda Bose directed the state government to arrest the organiser of the event featuring Messi at the Salt Lake stadium for mismanagement.

West Bengal DGP Rajiv Kumar told reporters that police detained Dutta after the chaos unfolded and accused him of mismanagement, warning that action would be taken against him. Kumar also said the organisers will refund the money spent on tickets for the event.

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Promotional banners and posters of Messi’s G.O.A.T Tour in India revealed that they had been organised as part of ‘A Satadru Dutta Initiative’. Dutta had previously played a crucial role in bringing football icons Pele and Diego Maradona to India.

“I just want to tell him to play football with me. And if I’m not successful, I will go to the gym tomorrow morning to catch a glimpse of him. I have my autograph book ready and hopefully I will get a selfie,” Dutta said after receiving Messi at the airport.

Mamata Banerjee Apologises

Meanwhile, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee expressed shock over the mismanagement and announced the constitution of a high-level enquiry committee. She apologised to Messi and to sports lovers who had gathered at the stadium.

“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake stadium,” the chief minister said, adding that thousands of fans had assembled at the venue hoping to catch a glimpse of the football star.

Governor Bose said that while the organisers of the event are to be blamed squarely for the situation, it is also the police that has “failed” the government, the people and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also the home minister.

The chaos also forced an abrupt curtailment of the programme, with several invited dignitaries, including Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan and former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly unable to participate as planned.