Kerala Court Denies Bail to Reporter TV Head Anto Augustine
· India · Hindustan Times, The Hindu
A court in Wayanad denied bail to Reporter TV's managing director Anto Augustine on Friday in an excise case related to alleged possession of liquor beyond permissible limits. The bail petition was rejected by Judicial First Class Magistrate Adheena Biju in Sultan Bathery. Augustine was remanded to judicial custody until September 30 after a detailed hearing on Thursday. Excise officials seized around 67 litres of liquor, including foreign-made and Indian-made varieties, during raids at his home in Muttil, Wayanad. The prosecution opposed bail, citing the preliminary stage of the probe and the risk of witness influence. Augustine faces charges under sections 55(a), 55(i) and 58 of the Kerala Abkari Act. The seizure was part of statewide raids linked to the investigation into irregularities surrounding the cancelled visit of Lionel Messi and the Argentine football team to Kerala. Reporter Broadcasting Corporation, part of Augustine’s corporate assets, was planned as the event’s private
Why it matters
The denial of bail highlights strict enforcement of excise laws in Kerala, particularly in cases involving public figures linked to high-profile events. It also underscores ongoing scrutiny of financial and tax compliance in media-related corporate entities.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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