Overview
- Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced on Thursday that a Special Investigation Team led by ADGP P. Vijayan has been constituted to probe the aborted attempt to bring Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to Kerala.
- The SIT includes a Superintendent of Police, a Deputy Superintendent of Police and senior officers drawn from the Crime Branch and Vigilance and has been ordered to investigate thoroughly and submit its report at the earliest.
- A preliminary Sports Department report supplied to the government alleged a complete absence of banking evidence for a claimed Rs.126 crore transfer and the lack of a formal tripartite contract or a detailed project report for the event.
- The State GST intelligence wing has flagged an unpaid IGST exposure of Rs.22.68 crore and officials are tracing roughly Rs.206 crore in other transfers into the private sponsor Reporter Broadcasting Company’s accounts; all figures remain under verification.
- The Enforcement Directorate has opened a separate probe into possible money‑laundering and foreign‑exchange violations, and the coming SIT and ED findings could determine tax recovery, criminal charges and scrutiny of past official approvals.