Shatadru Dutta TMC Defamation Case
Cloud TV Desk: The controversy surrounding Lionel Messi’s 2025 India visit has now taken a major political turn in West Bengal. Shatadru Dutta, one of the main organisers behind the football icon’s India tour, has publicly launched a strong attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) after being expelled from the party.
In a series of social media posts, Dutta alleged that his reputation was deliberately tarnished following the chaos and controversy surrounding the event at Salt Lake Stadium. He claimed that years of hard work were destroyed for political reasons and warned that he is preparing to take legal action against the ruling party.
Dutta has even threatened to file a ₹100 crore defamation lawsuit against TMC, accusing the party of publicly humiliating him and attempting to destroy his credibility.
The development has triggered fresh political debate in West Bengal, especially because Dutta was once considered close to sections of the Trinamool leadership. However, following the party’s recent electoral defeat in the state, he has become increasingly vocal against the organisation.
The Salt Lake Stadium controversy had earlier created major headlines during Messi’s India visit. Allegations regarding crowd mismanagement, security failures and financial irregularities had surfaced after the high-profile football event. Dutta was later arrested in connection with the matter and reportedly spent 37 days in jail.
Referring to that episode, Dutta claimed he had been unfairly targeted and politically sacrificed. According to him, the project was built over three years with the intention of bringing global football attention to Bengal, but he was ultimately portrayed as a criminal.
“I worked for Bengal and for football, but I was made the villain,” Dutta reportedly stated while defending his role in the event.
So far, the Trinamool Congress has not officially responded to Dutta’s allegations or his legal threat. However, political observers believe the controversy could create further embarrassment for the party at a time when internal dissatisfaction and factional tensions are already under discussion.
The issue has also generated strong reactions on social media. While some users expressed support for Dutta and questioned the handling of the case, others argued that accountability for the Salt Lake Stadium controversy cannot be avoided.
The political fallout from Messi’s India visit now appears far from over. Attention will now shift to whether Dutta formally approaches the court with his proposed defamation case and how the Trinamool Congress chooses to respond in the coming days.
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