Aroop Biswas seeks 14 days on health grounds after skipping cop summons

Kolkata: Former Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas has sought 14 days‘ time to appear before police in connection with the investigation into the controversy surrounding Lionel Messi’s event at Yuva Bharati Krirangan, after failing to respond to a summons issued by Bidhannagar South Police on Thursday.Biswas, a former Trinamool MLA from Tollygunge, was directed to appear before investigators on Thursday following a complaint lodged by Satadru Dutta — the primary organiser of the Lionel Messi-GOAT India Tour at Salt Lake stadium on Dec 13, last year. On Wednesday night, Biswas’s lawyer submitted a letter to Bidhannagar South PS seeking more time for his client to appear for questioning.Police sources said the summons was issued after an FIR was registered on the basis of Dutta’s complaint against Biswas and several others. The case pertains to alleged irregularities linked to the event. The FIR, registered on Saturday, invokes five provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including common intention (section 3(5)), extortion (section 308(2)), cheating (section 318(4)), criminal intimidation (section 351(2)) and criminal conspiracy (section 61(2)).Anticipating possible arrest, Biswas has already moved the Barasat court seeking anticipatory bail. The hearing on his bail plea is scheduled for July 22. Sources indicated that the former minister is awaiting the court’s decision before deciding on his next course of action.Complainant was arrested earlier following allegations of mismanagement and disorder at the event. He was subsequently released on bail after 38 days. After securing bail, Dutta filed a complaint against Biswas and others, leading to the registration of the FIR.Reacting to Biswas’s request for more time, Dutta took to X and questioned the timing of the former minister’s reported illness.