'Government systems were misused, former Sports Minister's foreign trip to be probed'

NEW DELHI: Sports Minister O J Janeesh has rejected the claims made by former minister V Abdurahiman in connection with the alleged fraud carried out in the name of football star Lionel Messi. Speaking in Delhi, Janeesh alleged that government systems were misused and that there was an attempt to generate profits for a private individual.

"There is no merit in the argument that the government did not suffer any financial loss. The background of a company registered only 20 days earlier was not examined. The Rules of Procedure were not followed while dealing with the proposal that reached the minister's office. The former minister should clarify who Ameera is. Did the former Chief Minister know about this?" Janeesh asked.

He also alleged that government funds were misused for the former minister's foreign trip, which cost around Rs 14 lakh.

"The former minister treated the government as a mere spectator. What did the sponsor, which allegedly suffered a loss of Rs 126 crore, do to recover the money? Why was no complaint filed? The files contain no criteria regarding the selection of the sponsor. There is also no clarity on who would receive the share of the profits," Janeesh said.

He added that the government would examine whether the former Chief Minister was aware of Abdurahiman's foreign trip.

"We will examine and clarify whether the former Chief Minister knew about Abdurahiman's foreign trip. Naturally, it is something the Chief Minister should have been aware of," he said.