The Enforcement Directorate is examining the financial trail linked to the proposed Lionel Messi and Argentina football team event in Kochi after a Kerala Police investigation into alleged irregularities. The Kerala Police SIT has investigated financial transactions, agreements and arrangements involving Reporter Broadcasting Private Limited and its authorised signatory Anto Augustine. The police case concerns alleged cheating, conspiracy and disputed documentation related to the proposed event. The ED’s investigation is expected to examine overseas remittances, the source and movement of funds and whether any transactions could constitute proceeds of crime under applicable law.
Lionel Messi Keralam Visit Row Escalates With ED Probe Into Financial Trail
The Enforcement Directorate is gearing up to probe the financial transactions allegedly connected to the proposed Lionel Messi and Argentina football team event in Kochi.
The Lionel Messi Keralam visit row has taken another twist with the Enforcement Directorate gearing up to probe the alleged financial trail behind the proposed Argentina football event.
The Kochi unit of the Enforcement Directorate is likely to file an Enforcement Case Information Report under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, based on the police case.
The probe was recommended after the Kalamassery police registered an FIR on September 15 following a preliminary inquiry by the Special Investigation Team.
The police case includes Anto Augustine, authorised signatory of Reporter Broadcasting Private Limited, and the company in allegations of cheating and conspiracy.
The controversy revolves around a proposed international friendly match in Kochi in 2025 involving Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team.
Kerala SIT investigation brings financial transactions under scrutiny
Police investigation states the alleged conspiracy began before December 20, 2024, and several disputed actions are under scrutiny.
The SIT has alleged that “illegal and fake” particulars were allegedly incorporated in an agreement with the Argentina Football Association for wrongful gain.
The allegations are that the disputed information was allegedly used to deceive the government and members of the public about arrangements for the proposed event.
Officials are also probing a bid to book the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium here without depositing the required security amount of Rs 5 crore.
The FIR states that exemption from payment of security deposit was granted on September 26, 2025, while the authorities were investigating the arrangements for the proposed match.
The ED is likely to probe the source, flow and use of funds involved in the transactions that came to light during the police probe.
The agency will also check if any of the alleged transactions had generated proceeds of crime or were linked to money laundering under the PMLA.
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Messi event case widens as SIT conducts searches
The proposed ED probe has taken importance as the Kerala SIT has stepped up its probe into the financial and administrative aspects of the Messi event controversy.
As part of the probe, the SIT conducted searches at five places connected to the Anto brothers, including their ancestral property at Wayanad.
In an operation, the Wayanad excise department has reportedly seized 67 litres of liquor, including suspected spurious liquor, from the ancestral property.
A separate case was registered after the seizure, and Anto Augustine was arrested in connection with the matter, before later getting bail from the Kerala High Court.
The seizure of the liquor is a separate proceeding and should not, in and of itself, create any connection with the financial allegations being investigated in the Messi event case.
The wider investigation continues to focus on the proposed football match, the contracts, alleged representations to authorities and financial transactions linked to its organisation.
Sprouts News will continue to cover the story as investigators work to learn more about the scope of the financial inquiry and any additional action that could result from the police case.
ED action could determine next stage of investigation
If the ED registers an ECIR, investigators could look into financial records and transactions related to the allegations, so long as the agency can show it has jurisdiction under the law in question.
The case could therefore go beyond the event’s organisational arrangements to questions of financial flows, representations to authorities and possible proceeds of crime.
The allegations are the subject of ongoing investigation, and any person or entity named in the proceedings reserves its legal rights and available remedies.
Further developments are expected from the ED and the Kerala police as the investigators are probing the documentary evidence, financial transactions and the circumstances relating to the proposed Messi event.
