Keralam Governor Om Prakash Mathur on Thursday granted sanction to prosecute former Sports Minister V Abdurahiman under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the proposed visit of Lionel Messi-led Argentina football team to Keralam, official sources said on Thursday.The sanction allows the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to name Abdurahiman, a CPI(M) leader, as an accused in the case, which pertains to alleged corruption and irregularities in the sponsorship arrangements for the proposed football event in Kochi.The proposed visit of football legend Lionel Messi and the Argentina national football team to Keralam, planned for earlier this year, snowballed into a major controversy over the event's funding, sponsorship arrangements and financial viability. The government-proposed event faced allegations of irregularities in the arrangements and questions over the involvement of a private event sponsor, eventually leading to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe.The government had sought the Governor's approval after the SIT, in its investigation report, recommended prosecuting the former minister.
The probe allegedly found that Abdurahiman misused his official position to extend undue financial and sponsorship benefits to a private event sponsor. Chief Minister VD Satheesan had last month forwarded the file to Lok Bhavan, seeking the Governor's sanction to prosecute Abdurahiman.
Since the former minister had served in the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, the approval of the Governor was required to proceed against him in the case.The previous LDF government had made efforts to organise a football match featuring the Argentina national team in Keralam last year. However, the proposed event failed to materialise, with the sponsorship arrangements subsequently coming under the scanner.
According to sources, the SIT recently questioned Abdurahiman as part of its investigation. The probe allegedly revealed that the former minister had taken the initiative to select the company that sponsored the proposed event.Investigators also found alleged irregularities in the facilities extended to the sponsoring firm for organising the match.
These included the handing over of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi, which is owned by the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA).The SIT had earlier registered a case against the company that sponsored the proposed event and its managing director. Its investigation subsequently expanded to examine the alleged role of the former minister and others in the sponsorship arrangements.The investigation team also recommended naming four others as accused in the case, including Reporter Broadcasting Company and its owner, Anto Augustine.In addition, Satheesan had granted permission to the SIT to name Abdurahiman's personal secretary, Sathyapalan, and former Keralam State Sports Council president U Sharaf Ali as accused.
The SIT has already initiated an investigation against the two, sources said.The SIT submitted its findings to the Chief Minister, recommending that Abdurahiman be named as an accused based on the alleged irregularities identified during the investigation.The Governor's approval marks a significant step in the investigation into the failed bid to bring the Argentina football team, led by Lionel Messi, to Kerala.- Ends