Former West Bengal sports minister Aroop Biswas has sought 14 days' time to appear before police for questioning in connection with an FIR filed against him over alleged vandalism and irregularities linked to Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour event at Yuva Bharati Krirangan in December 2025.

Biswas was summoned by the Bidhannagar (South) Police Station and asked to appear on 5 June as part of an investigation initiated following a complaint related to the controversial event held at the Salt Lake stadium on 13 December 2025.

However, a day before his scheduled appearance, the former minister sent a letter to the police seeking a two-week extension on medical grounds. The request, delivered through a messenger, was accompanied by a medical certificate supporting his claim of ill health.

Police officials had not indicated by Thursday evening whether the request for additional time would be accepted.

The case stems from an FIR registered on 30 May based on a complaint filed by event organiser Satadru Dutta on 17 May. Dutta alleged that widespread irregularities took place during the high-profile football event and accused Biswas and others of being involved.

Welcoming the police action, Dutta said investigators were moving in the right direction to identify those responsible for the alleged mismanagement surrounding the Messi event.

In his complaint, Dutta also accused Biswas of black-marketing nearly 22,000 tickets for the event — a claim that has now become part of the ongoing police investigation.

The controversy has seen a dramatic reversal of roles. During the previous Trinamool Congress government, Dutta himself was arrested in connection with disturbances linked to the Yuva Bharati episode before later securing bail.

The probe has gained political significance following the change of government in West Bengal. Biswas, a four-time Trinamool Congress MLA from Tollygunge, lost the 2026 assembly election to BJP candidate and actor-turned-politician Papiya Adhikari by more than 6,000 votes.

After the FIR was registered, Dutta publicly thanked chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, sports minister Nishith Pramanik and director general of police Sidh Nath Gupta for pursuing the matter.

Notably, sports minister Nishith Pramanik had earlier indicated that his department would reopen and examine files related to the Messi event controversy after assuming office.

With police now probing allegations ranging from vandalism to ticket black-marketing, the investigation into the much-publicised Messi tour has once again come under the spotlight.

With IANS inputs

A 26-year-old man was killed and eight others injured after a four-storey under-construction commercial building collapsed near Delhi's Saket Metro Station on Saturday evening, triggering a massive multi-agency rescue operation.

The deceased was identified as Ravi, who was declared "brought dead" at the AIIMS Trauma Centre, according to the Delhi Fire Services (DFS).

Officials said a total of nine people were pulled out from the debris. Two were rescued by local residents before emergency teams arrived, while seven others were rescued by personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Delhi Police and civil defence units.

The injured have been identified as Saika Khan (27), Aditya Sharma (24), Tarun Kumar (26), Anuj Dikshi (25), Neelam Yadav (25), Kshitij Pratap (25), Aastha (25) and Vishal (24). All are undergoing treatment at the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

The building in Saidullajab, near Saket Metro Station, collapsed on Saturday evening, reducing the structure to a heap of concrete and twisted metal.

Authorities said the ground-plus-three-floor building, which was under construction, came crashing down onto a nearby tin-shed canteen where several youngsters were having dinner, trapping multiple people beneath the rubble.

Eyewitnesses said the collapse occurred around 6 pm, sending panic through the area.

Rescue teams rushed to the site soon after the incident, deploying heavy machinery and specialised equipment to search for survivors buried under the debris.

Officials said the search operation remains underway as teams continue to comb through the rubble to ensure no one is trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

The cause of the collapse is yet to be determined.

Authorities are expected to investigate whether construction norms were violated and if any negligence contributed to the tragedy.

Further details are awaited.

With PTI inputs

At least five people were killed and several others injured after a fire broke out in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district early on Thursday, prompting a probe into the incident and renewed concerns over hospital fire safety.

The blaze erupted around 3 am at Prasad Hospital in the Brahmpura area and rapidly engulfed the ICU, filling the ward with dense smoke and triggering panic among patients and attendants.

“A total of five deaths have been confirmed. Several injured persons are undergoing treatment at different hospitals,” Muzaffarpur Municipal Commissioner Rituraj Singh said.

Earlier, district magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen had confirmed three deaths, but the toll later rose to five as authorities completed rescue and identification efforts.

According to officials, around 13 to 15 patients were admitted to the ICU when the fire broke out. Family members and emergency responders rushed to evacuate patients, many of whom were shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment.

“We are trying to reach out to the kin of the deceased and other patients. The fire has been brought under control,” Sen said.

Preliminary findings suggest the blaze may have been caused by a short circuit, though officials stressed that the exact cause would be established only after a detailed investigation.

To ascertain the circumstances leading to the tragedy, the district administration has constituted a five-member inquiry committee.

Reacting to the incident, Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary described the deaths as “extremely tragic” and announced financial assistance for the victims' families.

“Instructions have been issued to immediately provide an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each deceased. The local administration is fully alert, and adequate arrangements have been made for the treatment of the injured,” he said.

Deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the government was examining the cause of the fire and would take appropriate action based on the findings.

Condolences also poured in from political leaders across party lines. BJP national president Nitin Nabin said he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

Former chief minister Nitish Kumar termed the incident “heart-wrenching” and expressed sympathy for the bereaved families.

JD(U) legislature party leader Shrawon Kumar said the government would investigate the matter thoroughly and take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The tragedy has once again spotlighted fire safety standards in healthcare facilities, particularly in critical care units where patients are often unable to evacuate on their own during emergencies.

With PTI inputs