Kochi: Kerala Police on Wednesday raided Reporter Broadcasting Company (RBC) office and residences of its directors in connection with the fictitious plan to bring Lionel Messi and team to Kerala for an exhibition match in Kochi.
The raids were conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in its offices in Kalamasserry, and residences in Kochi and Wayanad.
Scribes on duty accused the cops of taking away their phones during the search which were carried out with a court warrant.
The SIT is probing allegations of financial loss to the government in connection with the fake programme of Messi and the Argentina national football team.The police reached the Reporter TV office in Kalamassery in the early hours as part of the searches at five locations.
The probe had also flagged an alleged tax liability of Rs 25.78 crore involving RBC Pvt Ltd.The financial transactions linked to the proposed event included a reported remittance of around Rs 126 crore to the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan strongly criticised the police action at the Reporter TV office, alleging that the search interfered with the functioning of journalists.
KUWJ has condemned police entering the Newsroom.
Cops raid Reporter office
