Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Thomas Isaac Challenges GST Basis of Kerala TV Channel Raid
Police searched a Malayalam television channel and places connected to its owners.
The investigation concerns money paid for a planned Argentina football team visit to Kerala that did not happen.
Former minister Thomas Isaac said the government may have wrongly applied GST to the payments.
He said the tax should be returned because the planned service was never provided.
The government has said a GST fraud was established.
Congress leaders said the investigation was about possible wrongdoing, not an attack on journalism.
During one search, officials found liquor bottles at Anto Augustine's ancestral home.
Augustine was then arrested in a separate liquor-related case.
The searches and arrests have caused a political argument in Kerala.
CPI(M) leader T M Thomas Isaac questioned the GST basis of the raid on a Malayalam television channel.
Isaac said payments to the Argentina Football Association totaled Rs 126 crore in two advances and generated Rs 22.68 crore in tax.
He argued the tax should be returned because the contracted Argentina football team visit did not occur.
Kerala Police searched five locations in Kochi and Wayanad under court-issued warrants during the investigation.
Channel managing director Anto Augustine was arrested after liquor bottles were found at his ancestral home.
- Who
- CPI(M) leader T M Thomas Isaac, the Kerala government, Kerala Police, the Special Investigation Team, and Malayalam channel managing director Anto Augustine.
- What
- A political dispute over police searches, alleged financial irregularities, GST treatment, and Augustine's arrest during an investigation into a failed Argentina football event.
- When
- The searches took place on Wednesday, Augustine was arrested on Thursday, and Isaac made his criticism on Friday; the cited payments were made on June 6 and October 15, 2025.
- Where
- The searches occurred at the channel's Kochi headquarters, other Kochi locations, and an ancestral home in Wayanad, Kerala.
- Why
- Authorities were investigating alleged financial irregularities linked to the failed Lionel Messi-led Argentina football team visit; Isaac separately questioned the GST treatment of payments to the Argentina Football Association.
Critics of the Investigation
Government and Congress Defense
GST treatment
Critics of the Investigation
Thomas Isaac said GST applied to the service the Argentina Football Association was supposed to provide, not simply to the advance payments, and argued that the tax should be returned because the visit did not occur.
Government and Congress Defense
Chief Minister V D Satheesan has said a GST fraud was established in the Messi visit case.
Purpose of the raids
Critics of the Investigation
Isaac called the SIT's conclusions foolish and alleged that GST powers were being used to intimidate entrepreneurs and traders.
Government and Congress Defense
Congress leaders said the action concerned alleged fraud and financial irregularities and should not be portrayed as an attack on media freedom.
Anto Augustine's arrest
Critics of the Investigation
The broader political criticism presents the searches and arrest as part of a controversial investigation involving a media organization.
Government and Congress Defense
Health Minister K Muraleedharan said journalism cannot shield fraud and defended law enforcement action after liquor was allegedly found at Augustine's home.
- First advance
- Rs 78.2 crore paid to the Argentina Football Association on June 6, 2025.
- Second advance
- Rs 47.8 crore paid on October 15, 2025.
- Tax cited by Isaac
- The two payments generated a combined GST liability of Rs 22.68 crore, according to Isaac.
- Search locations
- Five locations in Kochi and Wayanad were searched under court-issued warrants.
- Investigation
- The Special Investigation Team is probing alleged financial irregularities surrounding the failed football event.
- Arrest
- Anto Augustine was arrested after liquor bottles were found at his ancestral home and the Excise Department registered a case.
