Legendary Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly has filed a Rs 50 crore defamation suit against Kolkata-based Argentina Fan Club chief Uttam Saha over claims he is linked to the controversial Lionel Messi event in the city. The former captain of Team India said that these statements are false and have damaged his reputation.
Messi’s visit to Kolkata ended in chaos for fans at the Salt Lake Stadium, as political presence and tight security prevented them from getting a proper look at the football star. Fans were forced to watch the event on big screens, leading to anger, damage to property and police intervention to control the situation.
Sourav Ganguly files complaint against president of Kolkata-based Argentina Fan Club
Days after Lionel Messi’s unruly event in Kolkata, Sourav Ganguly has taken legal action. He has filed a defamation case against Uttam Saha, president of Argentina Fan Club of Kolkata.
Ganguly said Saha made false claims linking him to the planning and organization of the event at the Salt Lake Stadium. He denied having any role in Messi’s trip.
Sourav Ganguly has filed a complaint in Lalbazar and has sought compensation of Rs 50 crore. He said that the allegations have been made without any evidence and this has damaged his reputation. Ganguly’s legal team has also sent a notice to Saha asking him to withdraw the statement.
According to India Today, Ganguly said in his complaint, “Serious allegations are being made in public without any factual basis.”
Lionel Messi arrives in Kolkata with Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez to unveil the statue
Lionel Messi arrived in Kolkata to unveil a statue along with his teammates Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez. Fans gathered in large numbers eager to see the Argentina icon on his first visit to the country since 2011 and his first visit as world champion.
However, due to poor planning the occasion turned into chaos. Fans who paid high ticket prices struggled to even see Messi as organisers, politicians and other VIPs crowded around him during his tribute. Messi was forced to reduce his attendance due to security issues.
Frustration boiled inside the stadium. Fans protested by damaging property and throwing objects on the field. What should have been a proud and emotional moment for Indian football fans ended in disappointment, with many feeling that influential figures had taken center stage.
Sourav Ganguly present at the venue during Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata
Sourav Ganguly was at the venue during Lionel Messi’s visit, but he was sitting away from the main area where the crowd problem came to the fore. He walked out of the stadium after the situation got out of control and looked unhappy with the situation.
During his speech in New Delhi, Messi said, “I want to thank everyone for the love and affection during these days in India. In fact, it was a really beautiful experience for us to be able to share it.”
“And even though it was short and intense, it was amazing to receive all this love that I knew about, but it was amazing to receive it straight away. It was a crazy experience, everything they did for us these days.
He said, “So, we carry all this love with us, and we will definitely come back, hopefully one day to play a match or on some other occasion, but we will definitely come back to tour India. Thank you very much.”
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