Messi match row: Kerala police raid TV channel office

On Wednesday, a special investigation team from the Kerala Police conducted raids at five locations, including the office of Reporter Broadcasting Company (RBC) - the company that operates Reporter TV. The investigation centers around a cheating case related to RBC's inability to bring the Argentina football team, led by former captain Lionel Messi, to Kochi for an international match last year.

RBC had served as the sponsor for the proposed event. Despite the denial of the allegations by the channel, the opposition has labeled the police action as reminiscent of the Emergency era. This development follows days of an FIR registered against Reporter TV's managing director Anto Augustine and RBC, based on a tip-off from the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The FIR, registered under sections related to cheating, dishonestly inducing property delivery, and criminal conspiracy, accused Anto Augustine and RBC of entering into a criminal conspiracy in December 2024. The charges included fabricating fake agreements with the Argentina Football Association, which the Kerala government allegedly fell victim to, resulting in financial misappropriation and tax evasion under the guise of the event.

The police raid on Wednesday morning was broadcast live, with the channel's journalists claiming their live telecast was disrupted due to police excesses at their studio. However, the police denied these allegations. ADGP P Vijayan clarified that after the Special Investigation Team was formed, a preliminary probe was ordered, reports from the sports department were collected, and necessary statements were obtained.

The police stated that their actions were based on a belief that a cognizable offense had been committed, leading to the registration of an FIR and the securing of a search warrant from the magistrate's court. Anto Augustine affirmed that his team had cooperated with the probe and condemned the action as an attempt to silence the media.

The opposition leader, Pinarayi Vijayan, strongly condemned the raid, comparing it to similar incidents in BJP-ruled states, and demanded answers from the Chief Minister and the Home Minister regarding the assault on press freedom.