ED to probe financial trail in Messi Kerala visit row
The Enforcement Directorate is preparing to investigate the financial trail behind the failed plan to bring Lionel Messi and Argentina's football team to Kochi. The probe follows a Kalamassery police FIR against Anto Augustine of Reporter Broadcasting Pvt Ltd, alleging cheating and conspiracy, including fake agreement details and avoiding a Rs 5-crore stadium security deposit. SIT raids have also led to a separate liquor seizure case against Augustine, who got bail.
Source
Enforcement Directorate (ED) · read the original report ↗
Desk check · some claims need care
What the desk checked (4)
- ED is preparing to register an ECIR under PMLA to probe the Messi event's financial trail — Reported as expected/likely by the agency, not yet confirmed as filed; attributed to agency sources
- Kalamassery police FIR alleges cheating and conspiracy against Anto Augustine and Reporter Broadcasting Pvt Ltd — Attributed to a registered FIR dated September 15, considered sourced
- Exemption from Rs 5-crore security deposit for JN Stadium was obtained on September 26, 2025 — Attributed to FIR allegations, unverified independently
- 67 litres of liquor including suspected spurious liquor recovered from Anto brothers' ancestral property — Attributed to Wayanad Excise Department action, reported as a separate case