ED to probe money-laundering allegations in Messi Kerala visit case

The Enforcement Directorate has decided to initiate a formal money-laundering investigation into the Lionel Messi Kerala visit controversy. The Kochi unit of the ED will register an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following preliminary findings of suspicious financial transactions, officials said.

The decision comes after revelations of significant fund transfers amounting to several crores of rupees in connection with the failed bid to bring the Argentine football icon to the state. Preliminary inquiries indicated potential irregularities in how funds were handled during the planning and execution phases of the proposed visit.

The ECIR registration represents a formal escalation of the investigation, allowing ED officials to examine the source, movement, and utilization of funds involved in the transaction. The probe will focus on whether the financial dealings involved layering of illicit money or concealment of the origins of funds.

This development marks the second major investigative intervention into the Messi visit affair, which had generated significant public interest and controversy in Kerala. The ED's decision to register the case under anti-money laundering provisions signals serious concerns about the financial conduct surrounding the aborted celebrity visit.