Anto Augustine
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (September 22, 2026) granted bail to Reporter TV Managing Editor and Managing Director Anto Augustine in the case registered for possession of alcohol beyond permissible limits.
Justice Kauser Edapppagath granted bail in Mr. Augustine’s appeal against an order by the Judicial First Class Magistrate, Sulthan Bathery.
Mr Augustine argued that the house from which the alcohol was reportedly seized had already been sold under SARFAESI Act proceedings in 2022. However, the Director General of Prosecution, T. Asaf Ali, pointed out that Mr. Augustine had paid tax for the building in March 2026.
Authorities had allegedly found 43.850 litres of Foreign Made Foreign Liquor, 1.224 litres of Foreign Made Foreign Wine, 6.250 litres of wine sourced from Bevco, 750 ml of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) stated to have been purchased from a military canteen, and 12.750 litres of liquid containing alcohol from the house, allegedly owned by Mr. Augustine in Karappuzha, Muttil, Wayanad.
Published – September 22, 2026 12:42 pm IST
