Shatadru Dutta, a 45-year-old sports entrepreneur, has been arrested following the mismanagement of Lionel Messi's brief appearance at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium, where angry fans rioted and threw bottles. The incident is not Dutta's first controversy, as he has previously organized events featuring football legends like Pelé and Maradona that faced similar issues. Police have remanded him to 14 days' custody amid investigations into the event's contracts and finances.
The chaos erupted on Saturday at Salt Lake Stadium during an event branded as the Messi GOAT tour, organized under Dutta's 'A Shatadru Dutta Initiative.' Fans, frustrated by Messi's short visit, went on a rampage, leading to the entrepreneur's arrest. As he was escorted to a police lock-up in Bidhannagar on Sunday, boos from Messi supporters echoed around him.
Dutta, born in Rishra, Hooghly, shifted from a career in wealth management and investment banking to event management in 2011. Despite a childhood interest in cricket, he developed a strong passion for football, even naming his son after Diego Maradona. He built connections in sports circles, including a close tie with former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, and advised on Project Mahadeva, a grassroots football program in Maharashtra launched by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and actor Tiger Shroff.
His website portrays him as a leader in sports innovation, but industry insiders point to a pattern of mismanagement. In 2012, a match between Brazil Masters and Indian Masters at the same venue saw Colombian goalkeeper Hegueta refuse to play over unpaid fees. The 2015 visit by Pelé drew quiet criticism, while Maradona's 2017 appearance resulted in the star being mobbed by crowds.
For the Messi event, Dutta reportedly secured a Rs 100 crore deal to host the footballer in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. Authorities are scrutinizing the contract and involved entities, with one officer noting the probe's early stage. Dutta's political links, including ties to Trinamool Congress leaders close to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and figures from BJP and Congress, have surfaced. BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari called Dutta a 'scapegoat,' urging the arrest of TMC minister Arup Biswas instead.
Earlier, Dutta had shared his excitement: 'I just want to tell him to play football with me... I have my autograph book ready, and hopefully I will get a selfie.' Now, he faces 14 days in custody as investigations continue.
