PILs in Calcutta HC seek CBI, ED probe into Salt Lake Stadium vandalism after Messi event chaos
KOLKATA: Three separate public interest litigations (PILs) were filed in the Calcutta High Court on Monday challenging the West Bengal governments decision to constitute an inquiry committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice Asim Kumar Roy to probe the vandalism at Salt Lake Stadium following the chaos during football legend Lionel Messis showcasing event on Saturday. The petitioners have urged the court to hand over the investigation to central agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), citing the scale of the incident and alleged lapses in crowd management and security. The pleas seek transfer of the ongoing state-level inquiry to central agencies for an independent probe into the factors that triggered the violence. The PILs have been filed separately by Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari, and advocates Sabyasachi Chatterjee and Mainak Ghoshal. The petitions are likely to be heard together later this week. Adhikaris counsel, Bilwadal Bhattacharya, sought permission from the court to file the PIL, arguing that a central probe was necessary to unearth the factors that had triggered vandalism in the stadium. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee , who was scheduled to felicitate Lionel Messi along with his teammates Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez at the event, had announced the formation of the inquiry committee under Justice Roy within hours of the violence breaking out at the stadium. Escalating his attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress ahead of the Assembly elections due next year, Adhikari on Sunday said his party did not accept the state governments move to appoint an inquiry committee headed by Justice Roy to probe the incident. 'We travelled all the way...': Heartbreak for fans as organisers mess up Messi event in Kolkata Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Sunday visited the vandalised Salt Lake Stadium complex, a day after he was allegedly denied entry on Saturday afternoon. His visit coincided with the inquiry committees inspection of the site. I came here again to visit the condition of the stadium. Lionel Messi is an international icon to all and vandalism happened during his presence. Its the failure of the government and police that led the mess. I will verify their role thoroughly, the Governor said on Sunday. I have also met the inquiry committee members at the spot and they are probing it. Saturdays incident is a shame for all in Kolkata. There might be several more reasons behind the chaos and these are not being properly cleared so far from outside. I will speak to the aggrieved fans and then submit my report, Bose said. Kolkata Messi event: Chief organiser arrested as Mamata orders high-level probe into alleged mismanagement
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