Businessman smuggled Rs 126 crore abroad, central agency probe likely; Former Kerala sports minister in quandary

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rather than deceiving people of Kerala with the promise of bringing Messi, the pressure intensified on former minister Abdurahiman after reports emerged that a controversial businessman, with the aid of the left government, illegally smuggled Rs 126 crore from India abroad in the guise of the project to bring Football legend Messi to Kerala.

Sensing danger, former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held a press conference on Wednesday, saying he had not seen the permission letter from the Football Federation for Messi's visit. The then Chief Minister, through the presser, washed his hands clean while pushing the former sports Minister Abdurahiman into further quandary.

It should be noted that Pinarayi didn’t second Abdurahiman in saying that the state government have not lost a penny. If further investigation is carried out in this situation, Abdurahiman will be in serious trouble. The current controversies were caused by the inspection report conducted by the Secretary of the State Sports Department regarding the Messi project.

There are allegations that the minister was involved in smuggling crores abroad. If Thursday’s cabinet meeting decides to conduct a high-level investigation, it will pave the way for a central government investigation. Once the report is submitted pointing out irregularities at the government level, the ED and the CBI's Economic Offences Investigation Division will be able to take further action.

If a businessman asks for permission to transfer Rs 126 crores abroad, the centre allows permission only after investigating everything, starting from the source of the money. The sports minister is purported to have asked the centre for permission in the guise of a government project, thereby providing the businessman leeway to smuggle the money abroad.