GCDA lodges police complaint against Congress for allegedly trespassing on stadium

The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has lodged a complaint with the District Police Chief (Kochi City), alleging trespass on the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor after a delegation led by District Congress Committee president Muhammed Shiyas entered the stadium, ignoring objections from the security guard on Tuesday evening (October 28).

According to the complaint filed by the GCDA secretary, based on information received from the stadium’s security personnel, “a group of individuals, including media representatives, forcefully entered the stadium around 6 p.m. without any permission from GCDA.” The complaint further alleged that the group accessed the ground where turf renovation work was nearing completion to facilitate an international football match that was under way. It said that entry onto the turf could damage the work already completed, resulting in significant financial loss. The complaint requested urgent action against the trespassers to safeguard the stadium and its premises.

Dismissing the complaint, Mr. Shiyas questioned why public representatives were being denied access while a private company owner was granted unrestricted entry. He pointed out that although the private sponsor of the now-cancelled international friendly match between Argentina and Australia had claimed an investment of ₹70 crore for stadium renovation, the actual work appeared to be worth no more than ₹70 lakh.

Mr. Shiyas also accused GCDA of allotting the stadium for renovation without a formal agreement and of concealing an IIT Madras report on the structural stability of the venue.