Everything will be investigated: Kerala CM on Messi, Argentina deal

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the government will investigate allegations surrounding the previous LDF government's efforts to bring Lionel Messi and Argentina to Kerala. He flagged possible procedural violations, GST evasion and FCRA concerns, saying appropriate action will follow

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Thursday claimed that there were serious allegations in the report of the Sports Department regarding the efforts made during the previous LDF government’s tenure to bring football legend Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to the state and said that “everything will be investigated”. Addressing a press conference after chairing a cabinet meeting, the CM said that the report was being seriously examined by the government. “There are very serious allegations in it. The government is considering it. After examining it, required actions will be taken,” he said.

The CM also questioned how a private organisation was allowed to enter into an agreement with the Argentina Football Association (AFA). “What was the procedure for it? Was an expression of interest issued to grant permission? Nothing like that was done. It was simply given to a company without considering its market value, financial capacity, or source of funds. None of those was considered,” he contended. He said it was also doubtful if the state government was aware of all the aspects of the proposal as contradictory statements are coming from various quarters.

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Satheesan said that the government was looking into it, but even before that, when he received a complaint regarding the matter, there were allegations that the CM was trying to shut down an establishment.

“We are only studying the matter,” he said. He further said that the state government will examine the whole matter and if it is found to be serious enough to be investigated by central agencies, steps will be taken accordingly.

“It will also be investigated whether there has been a violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). Our view is that there should be a proper investigation. The nature of the probe will be announced in the coming days,” the CM said. He said that the role of the previous government in the entire matter will also be investigated, and it will be examined whether they tried to protect the interests of the state.

State Sports Minister O J Janeesh spoke along similar lines as the CM, saying that the procedure laid down for such programmes was not followed and the government did not even have a copy of the contract entered into between the sponsor and the Argentina Football Association. “The government has no records or files regarding the event. Therefore, the entire matter must be investigated in detail,” he contended.

He said that in such a scenario, where the government had no records or files, there was no need for the state to facilitate the contractual terms between two private parties. Satheesan, during his press conference, answered in the affirmative a query as to whether there were any GST-related irregularities in connection with payment of the sponsorship amount.

“As per initial reports, there are serious irregularities in connection with that matter. There has been GST evasion, and it was discovered during the time of the previous government, which also issued a notice regarding it.

“But after that, nothing. The investigation became paralysed. All that will be examined and steps will be taken to recoup the loss caused to the government and the alleged negligence on the part of officials will be investigated by the Finance Department,” he said.

“Everything will be examined and an appropriate decision will be taken,” he added. Earlier in the day, state Minister for Tourism and Culture P C Vishnunadh said the people were “betrayed and misled” with promises of bringing Messi and the Argentina team to the state, and it is going to be investigated.

The minister said the inquiry will be based on a report given by the Sports Department regarding the matter. “There is a feeling that people of Kerala were betrayed. They misled people by claiming that Messi would come. So, there is going to be an investigation based on the report of the Sports Department. Janeesh had also rejected the former minister V Abdurahiman’s claims regarding the matter and alleged that government machinery was misused to facilitate financial gains for a private individual.

Abdurahiman, however, has rejected the allegations and maintained that the LDF government had followed all prescribed procedures while attempting to bring the Argentina team to Kerala for a friendly match.