Messi event row: Police conduct search at Reporter TV office in Kochi
The team flagged alleged tax evasion of ₹25.78 crore and other irregularities tied to a proposed Messi and Argentina visit to Kerala.
- On Wednesday, the Special Investigation Team led by ADGP P Vijayan launched coordinated raids across Kerala, targeting five locations including the Reporter Broadcasting Company office and homes of the Augustine brothers in connection with a financial fraud case linked to bringing Lionel Messi to the state.
- Alleged tax evasion totaling ₹25,78,20,675 by Reporter Broadcasting Company Private Limited prompted the SIT investigation, which involves remittances to the Argentina Football Association through its collection agent Tour Prod Enter LLC.
- Financial documents show RBC allegedly failed to pay ₹34.15 lakh in RCM IGST on a $1.45 crore remittance to the AFA, and the SIT unearthed five additional foreign remittances worth ₹1.90 crore made to overseas legal counsel on which RCM IGST was allegedly not paid.
- Reporter Broadcasting Company condemned the raids, alleging police seized staff phones during the operation, which followed the SIT's recent registration of its first FIR in the multi-crore scam.
- Headed by ADGP P Vijayan, the SIT includes officials from the Crime Branch and Internal Security, and the investigation follows a Detailed Inquiry Report submitted to the State Goods and Services Tax Department flagging financial irregularities involving loans and inflated expenditure claims.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Messi visit SIT probe: police launch searches at five locations
Apart from head office of Reporting Broadcasting Corporation, residences of its managing director Anto Augustine and those of his brothers and co-owners, Roji Augustine and Jose Kutty Augustine, as well as the house of administrative head are being searched
Messi Kerala visit fraud: SIT raids Reporter TV office, residences
Special Investigation Team raids five locations in Kerala regarding a financial fraud case involving Reporter Broadcasting Company and a proposed.Lionel Messi Kerala fraud, Reporter Broadcasting Company raids, financial irregularities Kerala, tax evasion Messi visit, multi-crore scam Kerala, Kerala news investigation, football icon Kerala deal, Augustine brothers probe, Goods and Services Tax evasion, Reverse Charge Mechanism scam, foreign remit…
Kochi: A massive investigation is underway in the state into the scam that took place in the name of bringing Messi to Kerala. SIT is conducting inspections at five locations in the early hours of the morning.
Messi fraud probe: SIT searches Reporter TV office, houses in Kerala
The Kerala Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Wednesday carried out coordinated searches at five locations in Kochi and Wayanad as part of its probe into alleged financial irregularities linked to a proposed visit by football star Lionel Messi
SIT Action in Messi Event Case: Police Arrive at Reporter TV's Office in Kochi, Search Causes Uproar
Major action by SIT in Messi Event Case, police search Reporter TV office in Kochi, investigation intensified into alleged financial irregularities related to 2025 Kerala tour, channel alleges obstruction in news operation.
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