Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Police Raid Reporter TV Office in Messi Event Probe
Police searched the office of Reporter TV in Kochi.
They said the search was part of an investigation into a failed football event involving Lionel Messi and Argentina.
Police said they had warrants from a court.
Reporter TV said officers went into the news desk and took some employees’ phones.
The channel also said the search disturbed its work and broadcast.
A police officer said the people at the office did not cooperate at first.
Opposition and Communist Party leaders said the action threatened press freedom.
Kerala’s police chief said the search followed the law and that the channel continued broadcasting.
Searches also took place at other locations in Kochi and Wayanad.
Kerala Police’s Special Investigation Team searched Reporter TV’s Kochi headquarters and four other locations in Kochi and Wayanad on Wednesday.
Police said the searches were based on court-issued warrants and concerned alleged irregularities and government losses linked to a failed Argentina football event featuring Lionel Messi.
Reporter TV alleged that officers entered the news desk, took journalists’ and employees’ mobile phones, filmed staff, and disrupted its broadcast operations.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police said personnel initially did not accept the search notice or cooperate, while the administrative wing was opened after an official arrived.
Opposition and CPI leaders called the action an attack on media freedom, while the Kerala DGP said the search was lawful and the channel’s telecast continued.
- Who
- Kerala Police’s Special Investigation Team, Reporter TV personnel, the channel’s proprietors, and political leaders were involved.
- What
- Police searched Reporter TV’s Kochi headquarters and other locations during an investigation into alleged irregularities and government losses linked to a failed Messi-Argentina football event.
- When
- Wednesday, with the search beginning early in the day; one report dates it to September 16.
- Where
- Reporter TV’s headquarters in Kochi, including the news desk and administrative wing, as well as residences in Kochi and a family home in Wayanad.
- Why
- Police said the searches were conducted under court-issued warrants as part of the investigation into the failed football event.
Reporter TV and Political Critics
Police and Investigation Authorities
Purpose and impact of the search
Reporter TV and Political Critics
Reporter TV and opposition leaders said the action disrupted the channel’s work, created fear among journalists, and threatened media freedom.
Police and Investigation Authorities
Police said the search was part of a lawful investigation, and the DGP said he saw no obstruction because the channel continued its telecast.
Area searched
Reporter TV and Political Critics
Critics said officers should have searched the administrative wing rather than the news desk, where journalists and technical staff work.
Police and Investigation Authorities
The Assistant Commissioner of Police said the search notice concerned the administrative block, which was opened after a channel official arrived.
Cooperation and procedure
Reporter TV and Political Critics
The channel alleged that officers remained without clearly explaining the search and took phones personally used by journalists.
Police and Investigation Authorities
The Assistant Commissioner of Police said personnel initially refused to accept the notice or comply with oral requests, while police relied on court-issued warrants.
- Lead agency
- Kerala Police Special Investigation Team
- Search locations
- Five locations in Kochi and Wayanad, including Reporter Broadcasting Company’s office and residences linked to its proprietors
- Legal basis
- Court-issued search warrants, according to police
- Investigation subject
- Alleged irregularities and government losses linked to a failed football event featuring Lionel Messi and Argentina
- Channel’s allegation
- Officers entered the news desk, seized mobile phones, filmed journalists, and disrupted operations
- Police position
- The Assistant Commissioner of Police said the channel initially did not cooperate
- Political response
- Opposition and CPI leaders condemned the search as an attack on media freedom
- DGP position
- Kerala DGP Ravada A Chandrasekhar said the raid was lawful and the telecast continued
