Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 14: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged Messi event fraud linked to Reporter TV and its owners, even as the former Finance Minister and CPI-M leader K.N. Balagopal refused to answer questions on alleged GST dues connected with the visit of football superstar Lionel Messi to Kerala in 2025, which failed to take place.

State BJP General Secretary S. Suresh demanded that the V.D. Satheesan government hand over the investigation to the CBI, saying that the controversy had international dimensions involving Argentina, Embassies, apart from alleged financial irregularities.

He alleged that the state government’s name had been misused in the proposed Messi event and called for a comprehensive probe into the financial transactions involved.

He also demanded a criminal case into the alleged GST evasion and said those found responsible should face legal action, including arrest wherever warranted.

Suresh also alleged that serious charges had surfaced against the previous LDF government and sought a probe into allegations of political protection being extended to those involved.

He warned the Satheesan government against entering into any political understanding with former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to suppress or delay the investigation.

The BJP leader also claimed that the alleged intermediary (sponsor) in the Messi event faced around 19 cases, including cheating cases, and demanded that the entire financial and international dimensions of the controversy be examined by Central agencies.

Meanwhile, Balagopal, who served as the Kerala Finance Minister from 2021 to 2026 and now sits in the Opposition front row alongside Vijayan, faced questions on the alleged non-payment of GST linked to the principal sponsor of the Messi event.

Known for his sharp responses on public finance during his ministerial tenure, Balagopal offered little on Friday.

He said he did not have any papers on the matter and suggested that officials might know more.

The response was particularly notable given Balagopal’s repeated criticism of the Centre over Kerala’s finances and devolution of funds while he was the Finance Minister.

New Delhi, Aug 14: President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Amrit Udyan Summer Annuals Edition 2026 on Friday, throwing open the premier garden in the President’s Estate to public from August 16 to September 15, an official said.

During the Summer Annuals, the Amrit Udyan will remain open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the last entry at 5 p.m.

The Udyan will remain closed on all Mondays for maintenance, an official statement said.

Entry and exit for visitors will be from Gate No. 35, located near North Avenue Road.

“Entry to Amrit Udyan will be free of cost. Visitors will have to book their entry slots online at visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in advance,” the statement said.

Booking of slots for a particular day will close at 10 a.m. on the previous day. There will be no on-the-spot booking available.

For the convenience of the visitors, drinking water stalls, first aid posts, rain shelter and restrooms will be set up along the route of the visit, the statement added.

A shuttle bus service will also be available from the Central Secretariat Metro Station to the entry point to the Amrit Udyan at an interval of every 30 minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Earlier, the Amrit Udyan Winter Annuals Edition 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan was opened to public from February 3 to March 31, 2026.

The usual designated visitor route includes Bal Vatika, Pulmeria Garden, Banyan Garden, Bonsai Garden, Babbling Brook, Central Lawn, Long Garden and Circular Garden.

Apart from various varieties of flowers, visitors will be able to see the Babbling Brook, described as a water stream with cascades, and the Banyan Garden with reflexology paths.

The visitors are permitted to carry mobile phones, electronic keys, purses or handbags, water bottles, and milk bottles for infants.

Facilities such as drinking water, toilets, and first aid or medical services will be available along the public route.

In addition to Amrit Udyan, the public can also visit Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum from Tuesday to Sunday, and witness the Change-of-Guard Ceremony every Saturday at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, a statement said.

New Delhi, Aug 14: Five places in the national Capital received bomb threats a day before the nation celebrates its 80th Independence Day, officials of the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) said on Friday.

According to the DFS, the locations in Delhi which received calls alleging bomb blasts are Jamnagar House, Jhandewalan Flatted Factory Complex, District Magistrate Office in Saket, Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport and SDM Office at Delhi Cantt.

Fire tenders have been dispatched to all these locations. However, nothing suspicious has been found during the investigation so far, officials said.

Similarly, an email sent to the Delhi Mayor’s office on August 3 threatened multiple bomb blasts at the Red Fort on August 15, prompting security agencies in the capital city to spring into action to comb the entire area around the iconic monument.

As soon as the Mayor’s office received the bomb threat by email, it alerted the Delhi Police and other security agencies.

Soon after receiving the alert, police personnel, bomb disposal squads, and other security teams rushed to the historic Red Fort and carried out extensive sanitisation and inspection of the premises, an official said.

Delhi Police sources said that after receiving the information about the bomb threat, the security of the area was beefed up and an investigation was launched.

On July 11, a bomb threat targeting the Red Fort had also triggered a major security response, prompting police and security agencies to conduct a comprehensive combing exercise at the monument before declaring the threat to be a hoax.

According to Delhi Police, last month’s threat originated from a phone call made to the Mumbai Police Control Room, during which the caller allegedly claimed that the historic Red Fort would be blown up. Mumbai Police immediately relayed the information to the Delhi Police Control Room, which alerted the North District Police to initiate security measures.

After thoroughly checking the area, police officials found no suspicious object or explosive material and confirmed that the threat was false.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort on August 15, Saturday. The event is expected to draw large crowds and involve extensive restrictions on movement in the capital city.