Mall of Asia kept closed on Dec 31 keeping in mind police's apprehensions, management tells HC
Bengaluru (PTI): At a special hearing of a petition by the Phoenix Mall of Asia challenging the order passed by the City Police Commissioner to "restrict access to the public" to the mall between December 31 and January 15, the mall management promised to keep it shut on December 31 considering the apprehensions raised by the police.
The court recorded the submission of the Mall and the police that deliberations would be held to sort out the issue and arrive at an amicable solution.
A meeting was scheduled at the police Commissioner's office at 3 PM on Sunday and the decision would be submitted to the High Court at the next date of hearing on January 2.
The HC bench of Justice MGS Kamal directed that "no precipitative action shall be taken till the matter is resolved amicably or further order is passed by the Court" and posted the hearing to January 2.
Following the police Commissioner's order under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code directing restriction of entry of public to the Mall between 31-12-2023 and 15-01-2024, the Mall approached the HC. The HC noted the urgency and heard the matter on Sunday.
"The petitioner is before this court and considering the urgency pleaded, the matter is listed today," the HC noted.
The Mall at Byatarayanapura, Yelahanka Hobli is on the Ballari Road leading to the Kempegowda International Airport and opened to the public on October 22, 2023.
The police issued a notice on October 11, 2023 seeking information about the precautionary measures taken by the mall management about parking facilities, regulation of traffic among others.
The mall responded on October 20. Thereafter the police after gathering information available and intelligence passed the order on December 30 restricting public entry.
The order cited congestion, noise pollution and inconvenience to the public in surrounding areas.
On Christmas eve, there was major congestion caused by people visiting the mall.
Citing this and the apprehension that the situation would result in the commission of cognizable offences in the future, the order was passed.
The counsel for the mall argued that the order was unsustainable as it did not meet the parameters of Section 144 of the CrPC.
It was also claimed the order was ambiguous as it says the mall should restrict public access to the premises.
It was also submitted that the issue was not so grave that it needs such serious action.
The HC in its order clarified the police order that "Restricting public access to Phoenix Mall of Asia shall not be read as an order completely preventing the petitioners from conducting business."
"It is a matter of deliberation between the petitioner and respondent. This is only a matter of implementation of the order," the HC said.
The Court said that the order has to be passed in its letter and spirit but if it is ambiguous, it becomes unsustainable.
Recording the submission that the meeting would be held the same day, the HC directed that the decision and the solution arrived at be submitted to the court on January 2 and adjourned the hearing.
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Prime organiser of Messi event in Kolkata arrested over ‘mismanagement’ after stadium chaos
Kolkata (PTI): The police on Saturday arrested Satadru Datta, the prime organiser of the Lionel Messi football event at Salt Lake Stadium here, following widespread chaos at the venue, which prompted the Argentine World Cup-winning captain to leave the field early.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the stadium unrest, Datta was held by the Bidhannagar Police for “mismanagement” of the event from the Kolkata airport, where he had gone to see off Messi and his entourage on their way to Hyderabad.
"We are looking into whether there was any mismanagement from the organiser's side, which led to the chaos at the stadium. He has been detained, and the police have now brought the situation under control," West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar said at a press conference.
A senior police officer later confirmed that Dutta has been arrested. Till reports last received, the police were interrogating him and his manager inside one of the departure lounges of the airport.
The organiser has given in writing that he will refund the prices of tickets he sold to the disappointed spectators, Kumar said.
What was supposed to be a marquee football spectacle turned into widespread violence and disorder at the stadium after Messi’s brief and tightly ring-fenced appearance, his first at the venue since 2011, left large sections of the crowd frustrated, as they failed to catch a glimpse of their superstar despite having travelled from far and wide, paying hefty sums for tickets.
Police said they were also investigating how organisers allowed sale of bottled waters and beverages inside the stadium premises, which are banned items during such events.
Thousands of water bottles were used as missiles and lobbed inside the pitch by angry spectators, who also uprooted bucket seats from the gallery and used them as ammunition inside the field against the defending police and security personnel.
Spectators alleged that water bottles were being sold at a massive premium inside the stadium despite police disallowing such items from outside at the entry gates.
Police agreed there was an underlying tension in the galleries on account of Messi not showing his footballing skills on the field, which only got aggravated after a bunch of VIPs, including State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and unidentified people, blocked the football icon’s view during the limited time he spent on the ground.
“We are on the job, and will ensure that whoever is responsible for what happened today at Salt Lake Stadium will be punished, and action will be taken against the authorities concerned,” said Jawed Shamim, ADG, Law and Order.
