Court rejects bail plea of Reporter TV chief in liquor case
Wayanad: A court in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Friday refused bail to Reporter TV Managing Director Anto Augustine, who was arrested in connection with the alleged illegal possession of liquor.
The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court at Sulthan Bathery rejected Augustine’s bail application and ordered that he continue in judicial custody.
The court had remanded him for 14 days on Thursday. He is expected to remain at the District Jail in Mananthavady.
Augustine was taken into custody by the Excise Department early Thursday from the Reporter TV office in Kalamassery. His arrest came hours after a Special Investigation Team investigating alleged financial irregularities linked to a proposed visit by football star Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team to Kerala conducted searches at his office and properties.
The Excise action followed the recovery of around 67 litres of liquor and wine from Augustine’s ancestral residence at Vazhavatta in Wayanad during the searches on Wednesday.
Officials said the seized stock included foreign-made liquor, wine and other alcoholic beverages allegedly not permitted for sale in India. The case was registered under Sections 55(a), 55(i) and 58 of the Kerala Abkari Act.
An Excise team led by Assistant Commissioner Baiju reached the Kalamassery office at around 2.30 am, arrested Augustine and took him to Wayanad. He was later produced before the Sulthan Bathery court.
Separate investigation
The arrest followed a series of searches conducted by the police SIT at the Reporter Broadcasting Company’s office and premises linked to Augustine and his brothers in Kochi and Wayanad.
The SIT is examining alleged cheating and financial irregularities connected with the proposed Messi-Argentina football event. Its investigation is separate from the Excise case.
During the searches, investigators collected documents and other records, including material relating to the Kaloor stadium. They also examined financial transactions believed to be connected with the proposed event.
A separate tax inquiry has flagged alleged financial irregularities involving Reporter Broadcasting Company.
The arrest, coming soon after the SIT searches, has led to criticism and raised questions about the action against the head of a news organisation.
Augustine has denied the allegations related to the liquor seized from his residence. He has also maintained that he cooperated with the SIT probe and handed over the documents requested by the investigators.
The police investigation concerns the alleged financial irregularities surrounding the proposed football event, while the case before the Bathery court is restricted to the alleged possession of liquor beyond the permissible legal limit.
(Inputs from IANS)