Former Kerala sports minister denies reports of SIT questioning in Messi event case

Kochi: Former Kerala sports minister V. Abdurahiman on Thursday denied reports that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had questioned him in connection with the alleged financial fraud surrounding the proposed visit of Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team to Kerala.

Abdurahiman told Mathrubhumi in Tirur that no one had questioned him and described the reports as media-created. He also said he did not wish to respond to the media.

The denial came days after the SIT searched the residence of alleged key accused Anto Augustine and offices of Reporter Broadcasting Company as part of its investigation into the proposed Argentina football event.

The former minister rejected reports that investigators had questioned him over the sponsorship-related case. According to his statement to Mathrubhumi, he had not been questioned by the SIT.

The reports of questioning had said that the former sports minister was questioned for around four hours. The alleged questioning was said to have covered his foreign trip to Spain, the selection of the sponsor for the proposed event and the role of his ministerial office in the arrangements.

Reports had also said that investigators used documents recovered during recent searches and a questionnaire while recording the former minister's statement.

The SIT had searched the house of Anto Augustine, described as a key accused in the case, as well as offices of Reporter Broadcasting Company. During the searches, investigators reportedly recovered agreements, correspondence and email messages involving the minister's office, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and the sponsor.

Probe examines minister's office role

The SIT is examining allegations surrounding the arrangements for bringing the Argentina team to Kerala during the previous Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front government.

Abdurahiman was sports minister at the time and had repeatedly announced that Messi-led Argentina would play a major international friendly in Kerala in October 2025.

Investigators had earlier examined allegations that Abdurahiman intervened in the allotment of Kochi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Anto Augustine and provided assistance outside the prescribed procedure.

The probe is also examining allegations that assurances regarding Messi's proposed visit helped Anto Augustine make financial gains and that government machinery was used in the process. These remain allegations being examined by the investigation team and have not been established by a court.

Argentina visit did not take place

The proposed Argentina visit was announced while the previous LDF government was in power. The government had said that the sponsor appointed for the event had transferred a $16 million match fee to the AFA with the approval of the Reserve Bank of India.

The proposed visit, however, did not take place.

In April 2026, Abdurahiman had said that Messi and the Argentina team failed to honour the agreement and described the development as a "betrayal". He maintained that the responsibility for the failure to arrive rested entirely with the team and not the government.

The proposed visit subsequently became a political issue during the May 2026 Assembly election in Tirur. Abdurahiman, the CPM candidate, lost to IUML's Kurukkoli Moideen by 24,137 votes. Moideen received 1,06,108 votes, while Abdurahiman polled 81,971.

SIT examining financial transactions

The investigation gained momentum after the UDF government led by V.D. Satheesan came to power following the Assembly election. The government constituted the SIT in September to examine the financial transactions and other allegations linked to the proposed event.

ADGP P. Vijayan heads the team, which includes officers from the Crime Branch, Vigilance and local police.

The investigation followed scrutiny of reports from the Sports and GST departments and a legal opinion from the Advocate General. The alleged transfer of Rs 126 crore to foreign accounts through a US-based agency in connection with payments to the AFA is among the financial aspects being examined.

The GST Intelligence investigation had separately flagged alleged tax evasion of Rs 22.68 crore.

The SIT is examining bank records, agreements, company accounts, sponsorship arrangements and the process through which the sponsor was selected. The Enforcement Directorate is separately looking into possible violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

The latest developments come as investigators continue to examine the financial trail and agreements surrounding the proposed Messi visit to Kerala.