Kolkata, Jun 18 (PTI) Tension prevailed at the Alipore Judges’ Court premises in south Kolkata on Thursday after a group of lawyers and court staff staged a protest outside the chamber of an advocate where former West Bengal minister Aroop Biswas had gone, apparently for a professional consultation.
The protesters surrounded the chamber, demanding that Biswas come out and face them. Some were seen carrying eggs and raising slogans against the TMC leader.
As the agitation intensified, protesters banged on the chamber door and allegedly broke the glass panes of a window. Many shouted ‘thief thief’.
Biswas remained inside the chamber for nearly one-and-a-half hours as the protest continued. At one point, the lights inside the chamber were switched off as a precautionary measure.
Police later intervened and escorted the former minister out of the premises. He was taken away in a police vehicle fitted with protective mesh guards amid heavy security.
Several protesters linked their anger to the controversial football event held at Salt Lake Stadium in December 2025, which featured Argentine football icon Lionel Messi but ended amid allegations of mismanagement and unrest.
“We have come here to see him today since Messi scored a hat-trick in the World Cup,” a protesting lawyer remarked sarcastically.
Another agitator claimed he had attended the stadium event but failed to catch a glimpse of his football idol, alleging that the presence of politicians and VIPs on the field obstructed spectators’ views.
Biswas, who was serving as the state’s sports minister at the time, had faced criticism over his presence on the field along with others who allegedly violated protocols while attempting to take photographs with Messi.
A section of lawyers, however, distanced themselves from the protest, arguing that such conduct within court premises was inappropriate and did not reflect the standards expected of the legal fraternity.
Earlier in the day, Biswas was questioned for more than three hours by the Bidhannagar Police in connection with an investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the football event. Police have asked him to appear again on June 22.
The case stems from a complaint filed by event organiser Shatadru Dutta, who accused Biswas of ticket black-marketing, extortion, cheating and criminal intimidation in connection with the high-profile event.
Reacting to the developments, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh criticised the conduct of the protesters.
“If they call themselves lawyers, how can they use such language and justify such actions? Why is the police allowing such things to happen,” Ghosh asked. PTI SMY SOM
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