Kolkata: In response to show-cause notices regarding the disarray and vandalism during Lionel Messi's event at Salt Lake Stadium, two high-ranking IPS officers, including the state's police chief, along with a senior government official, submitted their explanations to the West Bengal government on Thursday.

Rajeev Kumar, the Director General of Police, Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh Kumar, and Principal Secretary of the Sports Department, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, complied with the 24-hour deadline set by the state secretariat.

These notices were prompted by an inquiry committee, led by retired Justice Asim Kumar Roy, which highlighted significant coordination failures and administrative shortcomings during the December 13 event.

Following the committee's recommendations, the state government took administrative measures against several officials, issuing show-cause notices to DGP Rajeev Kumar and Mukesh Kumar, while the CEO of Yuva Bharati Krirangan was dismissed. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of senior IPS officers was also formed to investigate the incident thoroughly.

Moreover, Bidhannagar Deputy Commissioner of Police Aneesh Kumar faced suspension, with departmental proceedings initiated against him for alleged negligence during the event.

Reports indicate that the involved officials have submitted their written statements to the inquiry committee within the required timeframe, although the details of these responses remain undisclosed.

Sources reveal that the Sports Department secretary mentioned the event was not executed as planned, with organizers making last-minute changes on the day of the event. The written replies from Rajeev Kumar and Mukesh Kumar have not been made public yet.

On December 13, Salt Lake Stadium was packed with fans eager to see the Argentine football star. However, chaos ensued when Messi arrived, leading to a surge of spectators attempting to capture photographs despite the presence of security personnel.

The situation escalated quickly, with attendees expressing frustration over their inability to see Messi, who exited the field after just 22 minutes. This was followed by acts of vandalism, including chairs and bottles being hurled onto the field. Several individuals breached the gates and entered the ground, causing damage to the stadium's galleries and restrooms.

In the aftermath, the state government established the inquiry committee and detained event organizer Satadru Dutta. On Tuesday, state Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigned, and show-cause notices were issued to top IPS officials, including DGP Rajeev Kumar.