Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Kerala BJP demands CBI probe into Argentina Messi visit irregularities
A famous football star from Argentina, Lionel Messi, and his national team were once planning to visit a state in India called Kerala.
Some leaders in Kerala helped arrange this visit, but now another political group called the BJP thinks something went wrong with the money.
The BJP believes that lots of rupees were taken by breaking rules, and they are asking a special detective agency called the CBI to investigate.
A BJP leader named S Suresh made the complaint, saying the last government, led by Pinarayi Vijayan and his party CPI(M), did unfair things with the money.
He wants the state's top leader, V D Satheesan, to let the CBI look into the whole matter.
Suresh also says a company that promised to pay for the visit changed the agreement quietly without telling the government.
He mentioned that the contract had a big fine of 4 million US dollars if it was broken.
He also talked about possible tax-cheating called GST evasion and wants a criminal case to be registered.
So this story is about leaders disagreeing and asking a top detective agency to check whether money rules were followed.
Kerala BJP leader S Suresh demanded a CBI probe into alleged procedural and financial irregularities in the previous LDF government's plan to bring Lionel Messi and the Argentina national football team to Kerala.
Suresh alleged that former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI(M) were involved in the alleged 'loot,' calling it a fraud connected with an international agreement.
He urged Chief Minister V D Satheesan to hand over the investigation to the central agency and questioned whether the UDF government would reach a 'deal' with the previous LDF government and Vijayan.
Suresh said details of alleged GST evasion linked to the matter had emerged and demanded that a criminal case be registered and the accused arrested.
He claimed the sponsor signed and later amended the agreement without the state government's knowledge, and that a USD 4-million penalty was imposed for a contract violation.
- Who
- Kerala BJP leader S Suresh, who made allegations against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI(M); the demand was directed at Chief Minister V D Satheesan
- What
- A demand for a CBI probe into alleged financial and procedural irregularities in the proposed visit of Lionel Messi and the Argentina national football team to Kerala
- When
- Friday, August 14, as reported by PTI
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- Why
- Because the BJP alleges that crores of rupees were swindled through fraud, GST evasion, and contract violations linked to the proposed visit
- Demand
- CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the Argentina team's proposed visit
- Alleged fraud amount
- Crores of rupees swindled, per S Suresh
- Contract penalty
- USD 4 million for violation of the contract
- Target of allegations
- Former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI(M)
- Additional allegation
- GST evasion linked to the matter
- Key figure in proposed visit
- Lionel Messi
- Location
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Date reported
- August 14 (PTI)