Thiruvananthapuram: The special investigation team (SIT) probing alleged financial irregularities linked to the proposed visit of footballer Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team to Kerala has obtained evidence during its search at the Reporter TV office, home minister Ramesh Chennithala said on Thursday.Chennithala said the details of the evidence could not be disclosed at this stage. “Who said that no evidence was obtained?” he asked while maintaining that the SIT was proceeding with the investigation in accordance with law.The minister said the searches were conducted legally and on the basis of warrants issued by the court. He also said the newsroom and administrative office of Reporter TV were located on the same premises, explaining the presence of the investigation team at the channel’s office.Chennithala said journalists working with Reporter TV need not be apprehensive and rejected suggestions that the search was an action against press freedom. “This is not a case against media freedom. This is not an action against media freedom,” he said, adding that the matter should not be portrayed in a misleading manner as an attempt to curb press freedom.According to the minister, the case relates to what he described as a major alleged fraud during the previous govt’s tenure in connection with the proposal to bring Messi to Kerala. The sports department had written to chief minister V D Satheesan seeking an investigation into the matter. The chief minister examined the communication and forwarded it to the home minister, following which the home department constituted the SIT.The SIT subsequently registered a case and raided multiple locations linked to Reporter Broadcasting Company, including the Reporter TV office and premises associated with its owners. The searches were carried out as part of the probe into alleged financial irregularities surrounding the proposed Messi visit.
