Anto Augustine, 38, managing director of Malayalam news channel Reporter TV, was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad late on Thursday. He was earlier arrested by the excise officials on charges of alleged possession of liquor in excess of the legally permissible limit
Mr. Augustine was taken into custody around 5 a.m. from the channel’s office at Kalamassery in Ernakulam amid high drama. The move followed the recovery of 67 litres of liquor — beyond the permissible limit for possession — from his ancestral residence in Muttil South Village, Vythiri Taluk, Wayanad, on Wednesday during a search operation conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT is probing the alleged financial fraud linked to the failed bid to bring the Argentine national football team and its former captain Lionel Messi to Kochi for an international friendly last year.
The accused has been booked under Sections 55(a), 55(i), and 58 of the Kerala Abkari Act. Excise officials told media that the seized alcohol included foreign made foreign liquor, Indian made foreign liquor, suspected spurious liquor, alcohol meant only for sales among defence personnel. A special team has been formed to investigate the source of the illegally stored alcohol. Excise is awaiting its chemical examination result of suspected spurious liquor.
The SIT had conducted day-long search operations at five locations in Ernakulam and Wayanad districts on Wednesday. According to SIT sources, digital gadgets, documents, foreign currencies, and 67 litres of liquor were seized during the searches. The operations were carried out based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Kalamassery police after a preliminary inquiry found prima facie grounds for a cognisable offence.
According to the FIR, the accused entered into a criminal conspiracy dating back to before December 20, 2024, when “illegal and fake” details were inserted into the agreement signed with the Argentina Football Association, with the intent of cheating the State government and the public for profiteering. The FIR further alleged that the accused conspired to gain custody of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor by securing exemption from the ₹5 crore security deposit on September 26, 2025.
The police entry into the news desk of Reporter TV in Kalamassery as part of the search operations had earlier evoked strong reactions in political and media circles, with many likening it to excesses during the dark days of the Emergency.
Published – September 17, 2026 09:01 pm IST
