Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 18 (PTI) Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Tuesday said that the nature of the probe to be conducted into alleged irregularities linked to the failed plan for the legendary footballer Lionel Messi’s visit to the state will be announced soon.
The chief minister said the government had completed its examination of a report submitted by the Special Secretary of the Sports Department on the issue.
“The examination of the report has been completed. A decision will be taken soon on what kind of investigation is required. Recommendations on further action will be sent to the concerned department,” Satheesan told in a press conference here after a Cabinet meeting.
He also said that the GST department has already constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the tax evasion charge.
“The LDF government itself had detected that GST evasion had taken place. Though a notice was issued, it was later kept in abeyance. The reasons for keeping it in abeyance will also be examined by the investigation team,” he said.
The alleged irregularities had caused a loss of more than Rs 22 crore to the government, he added.
The Sports Department recently submitted its inquiry report into the controversy surrounding the proposed visit of Messi and the Argentina team during the previous LDF government’s tenure.
Responding to criticism over the alleged mass transfer of government employees after the UDF government assumed office, Satheesan said the transfers were carried out in accordance with the law.
He rejected claims that three people had lost their lives because of the transfers, saying he was not aware of any suicide linked to employee transfers.
Satheesan said transfers were not unusual whenever a government changed, and that widespread transfers had also taken place during the previous government’s tenure.
He cited the example of the transfer of a husband and wife to northern Kasaragod district and southern Thiruvananthapuram respectively during their tenure.
One of the transfers being referred to to criticise us had indeed occurred even before this government came to power, he said.
The campaign surrounding the current transfers was therefore not correct, he added. PTI LGK ADB
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