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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a preliminary inquiry into the financial arrangements of football legend Lionel Messi’s recent visit to Kolkata. The central agency suspects that significant amounts of "black money" were funneled into the event, which was marred by massive mismanagement and fan unrest.
Investigators are specifically looking into the sponsorship deals and the vast sums spent on bringing the Argentine star to the city, following allegations of financial irregularities. Sources indicate that the ED is scrutinizing the bank accounts of the primary organizers and several associated shell companies.
There are concerns that funds may have been moved through illicit channels, including hawala networks, to cover the high appearance fees and logistical costs. The agency aims to identify the "ultimate beneficiaries" of the ticket sales and sponsorship revenue, which reportedly involved over 100 crore.