Messi Kerala event row: GST probes Rs 336 crore in Reporter Broadcasting accounts

Kanhangad: The GST Intelligence wing is investigating the source of deposits made into the bank accounts of Reporter Broadcasting Company (RBC), following allegations of tax evasion involving Rs 126 crore transferred to a foreign account under the pretext of bringing Lionel Messi and the Argentine national football team to Kerala.

During the 2024-25 financial year, a total of Rs 549.22 crore was deposited into various bank accounts held by RBC. Of this, Rs 137.75 crore came from Gokulam Chits, while Rs 75 crore was provided by Hinduja Finance Company. The accounts relating to these two transactions, involving a total of Rs 212.75 crore, are currently being examined by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The investigation is now focused on identifying the source of the remaining Rs 336.47 crore.

The probe is being conducted by the Kollam unit under the supervision of the GST Joint Commissioner in Thiruvananthapuram. Over a period of two years, Rs 436 crore was deposited into RBC's account at the SBI Kakkanad branch alone. A further Rs 111.80 crore was credited to accounts held at the Kalamassery branches of Axis Bank and ICICI Bank. The entire amount was subsequently withdrawn.

In its response to the SIT, Hinduja Finance stated that businessman Gokulam Gopalan had stood as a guarantor for loans taken by RBC from Hinduja Finance Limited.

The Rs 75-crore loan was disbursed in the names of Reporter Broadcasting Company, TBC Enterprises, Emeraj Corporation, Melby Jose, Bila Theresa, K.J. Jose, Roji M. Augustine, Joskutty Augustine and Anto Augustine. However, the entire amount was credited to a single bank account belonging to RBC.