2 weeks ago
Kerala government to probe Messi visit deal, says CM Satheesan
Leaders in Kerala made an agreement with the people who handle famous football player Lionel Messi.
The agreement was about a possible visit by Messi to the state in 2025.
Now the government is checking the agreement very carefully.
They think some tax rules may have been broken and that the deal was not made in a fair way.
A leader named Satheesan said the government will take action if any money was lost.
The government also decided to give two lakh rupees to families affected by a big landslide in Wayanad.
It also approved bonuses for workers of state companies before the Onam festival.
Ships will soon be able to move cargo through the big new Vizhinjam port starting August 18.
Satheesan also said he never asked the social media company Meta to remove posts that were against him.
The state and the national government disagree about a new law for mines and minerals, and Kerala says it will fight it.
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said the Argentine Football Association (AFA) agreement linked to Lionel Messi's proposed 2025 visit is under a detailed probe for possible GST violations.
The preliminary report found grave errors, including the deal being given to a private company without inviting an Expression of Interest.
Satheesan said the GST issue was detected during the previous government's tenure but was subsequently put into cold storage.
Satheesan denied asking Meta to remove posts critical of him, saying his only request concerned the Chief Minister's Office official Instagram account.
The Cabinet approved Rs 2 lakh compensation for each 2024 Wayanad disaster victim/family (Rs 5 crore outlay) and decided to oppose the Centre's Mines and Minerals Development Bill.
- Who
- Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and the state Cabinet
- What
- Announced a detailed probe into the Messi-AFA agreement, denied Meta-related allegations, and approved Wayanad relief, Vizhinjam port, and other Cabinet decisions
- Where
- Announced in Thiruvananthapuram; covering Kerala, Wayanad and the Vizhinjam port
- When
- Thursday; Messi's visit was proposed for 2025 and EXIM cargo movement starts August 18
- Why
- To investigate grave errors and possible GST violations in the Messi deal and protect the state's interests — with the Cabinet also opposing the central mining Bill on federalism grounds
Critics and Central government
Chief Minister Satheesan and Kerala Cabinet
Meta post removals
Critics and Central government
Left supporters who had a Satheesan interview removed by writing to Meta allege that he asked Meta to remove posts critical of him.
Chief Minister Satheesan and Kerala Cabinet
Satheesan calls the allegation baseless, saying his only request to Meta concerned the Chief Minister's Office official Instagram account, and he is willing to ask Meta to restore any removed posts about him.
Mines and Minerals Development Bill
Critics and Central government
Kerala Cabinet calls the Bill an encroachment on the state's constitutional domain that strikes at federalism, will inform the Centre of its opposition, and will seek legal recourse if it becomes law.
Chief Minister Satheesan and Kerala Cabinet
The Centre has proposed the Bill, which would place land and mining matters outside the traditional state sphere that Kerala says belongs to the states.
Key facts
- Agreement Under Probe
- AFA deal for Lionel Messi's proposed 2025 visit to Kerala
- Alleged Irregularities
- Possible GST violations; deal given to private company without Expression of Interest
- Preliminary Findings
- Grave errors; GST issue earlier detected but put into cold storage
- Wayanad Disaster Relief
- Rs 2 lakh per family/victim of 2024 disaster
- Total Relief Outlay
- Rs 5 crore
- Vizhinjam Port
- Commercial EXIM cargo movement begins August 18
- Onam Bonus
- Distribution guidelines approved for PSU employees 2025-26
- Opposed Legislation
- Centre's Mines and Minerals Development Bill
Quotes
V.D. Satheesan
Kerala Chief Minister
“The Left people who got my interview to a leading television channel removed by writing to Meta are now alleging that I had made such a request. This is totally baseless.”
thehansindia.com
“We are seriously looking into it.”
thehansindia.com








