Kerala High Court grants bail to media head in liquor possession case

The Kerala High Court has granted bail to Reporter TV managing director Anto Augustine in a case involving the seizure of illegal liquor from his home. Justice Kauser Edappagath issued the bail order after noting that investigators had already recovered the items and that Augustine has no past criminal record.

Seizure Details

Excise officials recovered about 67 litres of alcohol, which included foreign liquor, Indian-made foreign liquor, and wine, during raids at Augustine's house in Muttil village within Wayanad district on September 16. These quantities far exceeded the legal limit allowed for keeping alcohol at home. Authorities are also checking whether some of the seized stock is illicit. Augustine faces charges under sections 55(a), 55(i), and 58 of the Kerala Abkari Act.

Wider Police Probe

Investigators carried out these raids across multiple locations linked to Augustine, including his news channel bureau in Kochi. This action formed part of a broader police investigation into alleged financial irregularities connected to the planned visit of football star Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team to Kerala, an event that eventually did not happen. Reporter Broadcasting Corporation, which is tied to Augustine's business assets, was intended to serve as a private sponsor for that football tour.