According to reports, the Keralam State Government has sought the Governor’s permission to register a case against former LDF (CPM-led Left Democratic Front) Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The allegations are in connection with the LDF government’s much-publicised move to bring the Argentina football club and Lionel Messi to Kerala, as well as the sponsorship for the event.
The Governor’s permission has been sought as the Law Department had advised that the Governor’s approval is essential before ordering an investigation into improprieties allegedly committed by someone while holding the position of a minister. Another report says that the Home Ministry can directly order an investigation against former ministers and officials.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) P. Vijayan IPS, had conducted an investigation into the sponsorship controversy and has already submitted its preliminary report to the State Police Chief.
It is reported that the ADGP’s report was handed over to the state government on October 5.
The main recommendation in the report is said to be to register a case against five persons, including former minister V. Abdurahiman, under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The report says that Abdurahiman misused his official position and made improper interventions to provide substantial financial gains to the event’s sponsor, a private company. It is also alleged that government documents were misused in this connection, resulting in losses amounting to crores of rupees for the state.
In early October, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) recorded the statement of V. Abdurahiman. There were reports that the interrogation lasted nearly four hours. The questioning focused on the former Left minister’s visit to Spain and the manner in which Anto Augustine, the Managing Director of Reporter Broadcasting Company, was selected as the sponsor.
The investigation also examined the intervention of the minister’s office in the matter and the documents collected during raids at the offices of Reporter Broadcasting Company and the residence of Anto Augustine, one of the major accused in the Messi Gate controversy.
The SIT investigation was conducted alongside an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) into the sponsor’s ₹126 crore fund transfers.
The Messi Gate controversy comes as another setback for LDF leader Pinarayi Vijayan, who is the present Leader of the Opposition. He is already facing trouble in connection with the CMRL-Exalogic case, in which he, his daughter Veena Vijayan, and her husband and former minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas are accused.
