The Special Investigation Team probing alleged financial irregularities in a proposed Lionel Messi event in Kerala searched the Reporter Broadcasting Company office in Kalamassery on Wednesday morning.
Police also conducted searches at residences of the company’s directors in Kochi and Wayanad. According to investigation officer Bijoy Chandran, the searches were carried out based on a court warrant as part of investigations into five locations.
The SIT is examining allegations that the initiative to bring Messi and the Argentina national football team to Kerala caused financial loss to the state government.
“This search is based on the inquiry into the alleged loss caused to the government in connection with the promise to bring Messi to Kerala. And it was formed to enquire into this and we are here with a court warrant,” Chandran told reporters during the search.
Chandran alleged that those at the premises were not cooperating with investigators. “They are not ready to accept the search notice or open the premises for us. We have also informed them that they can communicate only in our presence until the search is over,” he said.
Journalists working the morning shift at Reporter TV told The News Minute that police entered the newsroom and took away their phones. They questioned the police presence at the news desk and said the action disrupted the functioning of the newsroom.
Financial Details Under Investigation
The SIT’s investigation covers the financial transactions associated with the proposed event, including a reported remittance of around Rs 126 crore to the Argentine Football Association. The probe has also flagged an alleged tax liability of Rs 25.78 crore involving Reporter Broadcasting Company Private Limited. The investigation also examines the process through which the private sponsor was selected.
Political Condemnation
Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan strongly condemned the police action, alleging it interfered with journalists’ work and created an atmosphere of terror.
“The Kerala Police action of entering the Reporter TV news desk and disrupting news transmission is highly condemnable,” Vijayan said in a statement. “A group of police personnel entered the Kochi news desk early in the morning and took away journalists’ phones. An atmosphere of terror was created for around one-and-a-half hours. The police also recorded visuals of journalists.”
Vijayan described the action as an attack on media freedom and said the Chief Minister and Home Minister should respond to it.
“The Chief Minister and the Home Minister are the ones who must answer for this attack on the media. I strongly condemn this despicable attack on media freedom,” he said. He compared the police action to incidents involving media organisations elsewhere in the country, saying the incident in Kerala amounted to an attempt to silence the media.
Journalists’ Union Response
The Ernakulam district committee of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists also protested against the raid. President R Gopakumar and secretary M Shajil Kumar said police entry into a media organisation was “highly condemnable” and an act that interfered with journalists’ freedom to work.
The committee said the seizure of journalists’ phones and the police presence at the news desk were unacceptable. It said complaints would be submitted to the Chief Minister, Home Minister and Director General of Police. The committee added that it had contacted the Home Minister’s office to register its protest.