Noose tightens for former minister Abdurahiman; ADGP P Vijayan to head Messi event row investigation

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The V.D. Satheesan government is ready to initiate a reinvestigation into controversial cases from the previous government. The government thus decided to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the huge fraud committed under the pretext of bringing football legend Messi to Kerala. Former Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman and Private Secretary C. Sathyapalan are under the lens.

An SIT has been formed under the leadership of ADGP P. Vijayan. IG Satish Binoy, two SPs and 4 DySPs are in the team. More people will be included. It is reported that a fraud of 200 crores was committed. Sathyapalan was the one who illegally conducted correspondence on behalf of the minister. Both of them may be sponsors and accused.

The SIT was formed based on the report of Sports Department Special Secretary N. Prasanth. An FIR will be registered soon. The source of 200 crores, the expenditure of money and black money transactions will be investigated.

Since there is corruption, fraud and cheating, there is a possibility of Crime Branch and Vigilance investigations in the next phase. Since there is a violation of the Foreign Exchange Act, the path may also be opened to the CBI. The ED registered a case in black money transactions. The investigation into GST evasion is progressing.

The Chief Minister directed the Home Minister to form an SIT. After it was argued that forming an SIT before registering an FIR would create legal problems, advice was sought from the Director General of Prosecutions. The legal advice stated there was no obstacle since serious crimes had been revealed with evidence.

The former minister is said to have allowed permission to a private company to agree with the Argentine Football Association, bypassing the rules. No expression of interest was invited. Market value, financial capacity or source of funds were not considered. It has been found that the sponsor, Reporter Broadcasting Company, received Rs 206 crore from two financial institutions and evaded tax of Rs 22.68 crore.