Special Investigation Team will probe ‘financial misappropriation’ in bid to bring Messi to Keralam: Chennithala

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged financial misappropriation and tax evasion involving a failed bid to bring football legend Lionel Messi to Keralam.Addressing the media in Idukki, Mr. Chennithala said that Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) P. Vijayan will lead the team, which will also comprise a Superintendent of Police, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, and other officers.Messi visit row: Keralam’s UDF govt finalises terms of reference for SIT probe into LDF’s botched move“The team will conduct a detailed probe into the episode and submit a comprehensive report to the government immediately,” the Home Minister said.Mr. Chennithala added that the SIT was constituted based on a note received from the Chief Minister. “Based on the note, I sought a legal opinion from the Director General of Prosecution and found several discrepancies in the incident. The government subsequently decided to constitute an SIT to investigate the matter,” he said.Custodial tortureResponding to a query on the alleged custodial torture of Congress worker V.S. Sujith at the Kunnamkulam police station, Mr. Chennithala said the complaint lodged by him had already been forwarded to the Director General of Police, and Inspector General of Police Putta Vimaladitya was probing the matter. He noted that while the previous government took action against three police personnel, the current government would take stricter action once the final investigation report was received.The Home Minister said the government would take stern action against anyone assaulting police personnel. Referring to a recent protest in Thiruvananthapuram, he said activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) attacked an Assistant Commissioner of Police and other police officers. He added that the Leader of the Opposition should clarify why the SFI engaged in such violent protests. Published - September 03, 2026 07:53 pm IST