Anto Augustine Seeks Bail from Kerala High Court in Liquor Possession Case
Anto Augustine, the Managing Director of the Malayalam news channel Reporter TV, has approached the Kerala High Court seeking bail after being arrested for allegedly possessing alcohol beyond the legally allowed limit as per the Kerala Abkari Act. Augustine was detained by authorities on Thursday morning and subsequently placed in judicial custody for 14 days later that evening. An earlier bail request made to a trial court was denied.
In light of the trial court’s decision, Augustine has escalated his plea to the High Court. His arrest followed a search operation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala Police, which targeted his offices and residences as part of an inquiry into suspected financial misconduct related to a failed football event. The event, meant to feature the Argentinian national team and star player Lionel Messi, had Augustine’s Reporter Broadcasting Company as its primary commercial sponsor.
During the SIT’s raid at Augustine’s family residence in Wayanad, approximately 67 liters of foreign liquor and wine were discovered, exceeding the legal threshold for personal possession. Consequently, the Excise Department took Augustine into custody early on Thursday morning. He faces charges under Sections 55(i), 55(a), and 58 of the Kerala Abkari Act, which address offenses related to the illegal import, export, transport, sale, and possession of liquor or intoxicating substances.
In his application for bail, Augustine contends that the property where the alcohol was found had been sold in a bank auction in 2022 and was no longer under his ownership. This argument forms the crux of his defense as he seeks relief from the High Court.
