Special Investigation Team will probe financial misappropriation in bid to bring Messi to Keralam

…Director General of Police, P. Vijayan, who is heading the SIT, said investigators had videographed the search operation, including at the premises of RBC’s chief executive officer and news presenter, Anto Augustine. “ At no stage did the SIT interfere in RBC’s editorial operations ”, he said. Mr Vijayan denied that the SIT had confiscated the telephones of RBC journalists and scoured their laptops and digital devices to identify the news channel’s sources in the government and outside “The SIT…

…and excesses”, he added. Earlier, Mr Vijayan, Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] general secretary M.A. Baby, CPI(M) State secretariat member and former Law Minister P. Rajeeve, had accused the UDF of “ borrowing a page from the Modi government’s playbook ” to stifle and intimidate the press in Kerala. The CPI(M) said the police raids at RBC’s editorial offices were meant to have a chilling effect on the media not beholden to the Congress government. Additional Director…

…clarified and was willing to explain again if served a notice. He alleged that the SIT appeared more interested in identifying the source of certain news telecast by Reporter TV, which he insisted he would not reveal. “ I have not been given a copy of the FIR. I have not claimed any benefit of journalistic privilege. While I have no objection to searches being conducted at my home and office, what was the need to enter the newsroom, disrupt input calls, and seize the mobile phones of journalists who have nothing to do with the case? This is worse than what happened during the Emergency ,” Mr. Augustine said. He further alleged that the GST department’s report on the matter had been prepared without incorporating his version. Published - September 16, 2026 11:21 am IST…

…Chennithala said that Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) P. Vijayan will lead the team, which will also comprise a Superintendent of Police, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, and other officers. “ The team will conduct a detailed probe into the episode and submit a comprehensive report to the government immediately ,” the Home Minister said. Mr. Chennithala added that the SIT was constituted based on a note received from the Chief Minister. “Based on the note, I sought a legal opinion from the Director General of Prosecution and…