Bail Denied
Court denies bail to Reporter TV chief following massive liquor seizure in Wayanad.
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Key Points
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The seized alcohol was itemized as 43.8 litres of foreign-made liquor, 1.2 litres of foreign-made wine, 6.2 litres of Kerala State Beverages Corporation wine, 750 millilitres of Indian-made foreign liquor reportedly bought from a military canteen, and 12.7 litres of an alcohol-containing liquid.
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Augustine was booked under Sections 55(a), 55(i) and 58 of the Kerala Abkari Act, and excise officials took him into custody at about 5 a.m. from Reporter TV’s Kalamassery office before transferring him to Wayanad.
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The trial court remanded Augustine to judicial custody until September 30 and sent him to Wayanad district jail in Mananthavady; the excise department separately sought custody for questioning about the source of the liquor.
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The Kerala High Court found a prima facie indication that Augustine had possession or control of the building and the alleged contraband, noting that he had paid the building tax in March 2026 despite his claim that the property had been sold under SARFAESI proceedings.
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The SIT’s searches covered five locations in Ernakulam and Wayanad and reportedly yielded digital devices, documents and foreign currency in addition to the liquor; Augustine said he initially demanded to see a hard copy of the excise occurrence report before being taken to Wayanad.
A Kerala court denied bail to Anto Augustine, managing director of Malayalam news channel Reporter TV, after excise officials charged him with possessing 67 litres of liquor beyond legal limits News18. The seizure occurred during a raid on a Wayanad residence linked to a failed Lionel Messi event investigation Times of India. Augustine claims he was in Kochi and had no connection to the property, which he says was sold under SARFAESI proceedings in 2022.
Court Cites Evidence and Investigation Stage
The Sultan Bathery magistrate court rejected Augustine's bail based on multiple factors. The judge cited the large quantity of seized alcohol, the early stage of the investigation, and alleged prior criminal cases Asianet News. The court also expressed concern that Augustine might interfere with evidence or witnesses during the investigation.
The Kerala High Court found a prima facie case that Augustine had possession or control of the building and the liquor Times of India. Prosecutors pointed to a building certificate and tax payment from March 2026 as evidence linking him to the residence, contradicting his claim that he sold the property years earlier.
What Police Found During Raids
Excise officials itemized the seizure in detail: 43.8 litres of foreign-made liquor, 1.2 litres of foreign wine, 6.2 litres of Kerala State Beverages Corporation wine, 750 millilitres of Indian-made foreign liquor from a military canteen, and 12.7 litres of an alcohol-containing liquid ANI News. The Special Investigation Team also recovered digital devices, documents, and foreign currency from five locations in Ernakulam and Wayanad.
Augustine's Arrest and Current Custody Status
Police arrested Augustine at 5 a.m. from Reporter TV's Kalamassery office and transferred him to Wayanad Times of India. He was booked under Sections 55(a), 55(i), and 58 of the Kerala Abkari Act, which govern illegal alcohol possession and trafficking. Augustine was remanded to judicial custody until September 30 and sent to Wayanad district jail in Mananthavady.
The excise department separately sought custody for questioning about the liquor's source ANI News. Augustine initially demanded to see a hard copy of the excise occurrence report before being transported to Wayanad for questioning about the evidence.
The Background: Messi Event and Financial Irregularities
The liquor seizure is connected to a broader investigation into alleged financial irregularities surrounding a failed event involving Lionel Messi and Argentina's national football team News18. The Special Investigation Team launched searches across multiple locations in connection with this case. Augustine maintains his innocence and argues the property was not his at the time of the seizure.
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