Reporter TV MD Anto Augustine arrested over excess liquor possession
Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links. The Kerala Excise Department arrested Anto Augustine, managing director and managing editor of Malayalam news channel Reporter TV, in the early hours of Thursday, September 17. He was taken into custody around 5 am from the news channel's office in Ernakulam and taken to Wayanad, his home town.According to reports, the arrest was recorded under non-bailable provisions of the Abkari Act following the discovery of a stash of liquor. During a raid, police uncovered roughly 67 litres of foreign liquor and wine at his family home in Vazhavatta, Wayanad, which exceeds the legally permissible limit for personal possession.Following his arrest, Anto was taken to the Aluva District Hospital for medical examination. Police told the media that he would be transported to Wayanad to be produced before the Sulthan Bathery Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.The arrest was made a day after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducted a search at Reporter Broadcasting Company headquarters in Ernakulam looking for digital evidence in an alleged financial fraud case. The case involves alleged cheating and financial irregularities connected to an initiative to bring football star Lionel Messi and the Argentina national football team to Kerala. Anto Augustine has been named as the primary accused in this case.The search by the SIT at his house was in connection with the financial fraud case; however, the team discovered an excessive amount of alcohol and alerted the Excise Department, leading to the Abkari case and arrest.Speaking to the media during the arrest, Anto said he never drinks. He also stated that he had provided all necessary documents regarding the financial case to the police.On September 16, the Thiruvananthapuram cyber crime police station registered the case against Anto Augustine and two unknown persons after he said the men approached him with papers alleging that Chief Minister VD Satheesan had illegally registered a second marriage in Karnataka in 2012.Earlier in August, two of the three Augustine brothers, key accused in the 2020 Muttil tree-felling case in Wayanad, surrendered before the Chottanikkara Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Ernakulam in a separate cheating case linked to the alleged sale of illegally felled timber. Jose Kutty Augustine and Anto Augustine, the second and third accused in the case, surrendered after the court issued non-bailable warrants against them for failing to appear. Later, the magistrate court recalled the warrants against Jose Kutty and Anto after they appeared and granted them bail.
Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
THE Kerala Excise Department arrested Anto Augustine, managing director and managing editor of Malayalam news channel Reporter TV, in the early hours of Thursday, September 17.
He was taken into custody around 5 am from the news channel's office in Ernakulam and taken to Wayanad, his home town.
According to reports, the arrest was recorded under non-bailable provisions of the Abkari Act following the discovery of a stash of liquor. During a raid, police uncovered roughly 67 litres of foreign liquor and wine at his family home in Vazhavatta, Wayanad, which exceeds the legally permissible limit for personal possession.
Following his arrest, Anto was taken to the Aluva District Hospital for medical examination. Police told the media that he would be transported to Wayanad to be produced before the Sulthan Bathery Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.
The arrest was made a day after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) conducted a search at Reporter Broadcasting Company headquarters in Ernakulam looking for digital evidence in an alleged financial fraud case.
The case involves alleged cheating and financial irregularities connected to an initiative to bring football star Lionel Messi and the Argentina national football team to Kerala. Anto Augustine has been named as the primary accused in this case.
The search by the SIT at his house was in connection with the financial fraud case; however, the team discovered an excessive amount of alcohol and alerted the Excise Department, leading to the Abkari case and arrest.
Speaking to the media during the arrest, Anto said he never drinks. He also stated that he had provided all necessary documents regarding the financial case to the police.
On September 16, the Thiruvananthapuram cyber crime police station registered the case against Anto Augustine and two unknown persons after he said the men approached him with papers alleging that Chief Minister VD Satheesan had illegally registered a second marriage in Karnataka in 2012.
Earlier in August, two of the three Augustine brothers, key accused in the 2020 Muttil tree-felling case in Wayanad, surrendered before the Chottanikkara Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Ernakulam in a separate cheating case linked to the alleged sale of illegally felled timber.
Jose Kutty Augustine and Anto Augustine, the second and third accused in the case, surrendered after the court issued non-bailable warrants against them for failing to appear.
Later, the magistrate court recalled the warrants against Jose Kutty and Anto after they appeared and granted them bail.
