The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala on Friday, 14 August demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged financial irregularities surrounding the cancelled visit of football icon Lionel Messi to the state in 2025, linking the controversy to Reporter TV and its owners. The demand came even as former Kerala Finance Minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) leader K.N. Balagopal declined to answer questions on alleged Goods and Services Tax (GST) dues tied to the proposed event's principal sponsor.

BJP's Key Demands

State BJP General Secretary S. Suresh called on the V.D. Satheesan government to transfer the investigation to the CBI, arguing the case carries international dimensions involving Argentina and diplomatic missions. Suresh alleged that the state government's name was misused in organising the proposed Messi event and demanded a thorough examination of all financial transactions connected to it.

He further demanded that a criminal case be registered for alleged GST evasion, and that those found culpable face legal consequences, including arrest. Suresh also alleged that the principal intermediary — reportedly the event's sponsor — faces around 19 cases, including cheating charges, making a central agency probe essential given the scale and complexity of the allegations.

Allegations Against the Previous Government

The BJP leader levelled serious charges against the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, alleging that political protection was extended to those involved in the controversy. Suresh warned the current Satheesan administration against entering any political arrangement with former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that could delay or suppress the investigation.

This comes amid a broader political climate in Kerala where the transition from the LDF to the United Democratic Front (UDF) government has brought several legacy decisions of the previous administration under renewed scrutiny.

Balagopal's Muted Response

Former Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal, who held the portfolio from 2021 to 2026 and now sits in the Opposition front row alongside Pinarayi Vijayan, was asked to respond to allegations of GST non-payment linked to the Messi event's principal sponsor. His response was notably brief — he said he did not have relevant papers on the matter and suggested that officials might be better placed to answer.

The reticence drew attention given that Balagopal was widely regarded during his tenure as a sharp and vocal critic of the Centre on matters of public finance, particularly on Kerala's revenue devolution concerns. Critics noted the contrast between his earlier assertiveness and his silence on this occasion.

Background: The Messi Visit That Never Happened

The controversy stems from a high-profile but ultimately failed plan to bring Lionel Messi to Kerala in 2025. The proposed visit, which reportedly involved Reporter TV and its owners as key stakeholders, generated significant public and commercial interest before falling through. Allegations of financial mismanagement, GST evasion, and misuse of government credibility have since surfaced, drawing political and legal scrutiny.

With the BJP pushing for central agency involvement and the Opposition yet to offer a substantive counter-narrative, the case is likely to remain a flashpoint in Kerala politics in the weeks ahead.