Anto Augustine bail denied: Reporter TV MD to stay in custody in Kerala excise case
Synopsis
Reporter TV MD Anto Augustine's bail plea was rejected by a Kerala court on Friday, keeping him in judicial custody in an excise case over 67 litres of liquor seized from his Wayanad home. His arrest came hours after a Kerala Police SIT searched his offices in connection with a separate probe into alleged financial fraud linked to a proposed Messi-Argentina football event — a timing that has drawn sharp questions about press freedom.
Key Takeaways
Anto Augustine , MD of Reporter TV , had his bail plea rejected by the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court at Sulthan Bathery on Friday, 19 September 2026 .
He was arrested by the Excise Department after approximately 67 litres of liquor and wine were seized from his ancestral house at Vazhavatta, Wayanad .
The excise case is registered under Sections 55(a), 55(i) and 58 of the Kerala Abkari Act .
His arrest followed SIT searches connected to a separate probe into alleged financial irregularities around a proposed Messi-Argentina football event in Kerala .
Augustine has denied the liquor allegations and says he cooperated with the Messi investigation; his counsel is expected to challenge the bail rejection in a higher court.
Anto Augustine, Managing Director of Reporter TV, will remain in judicial custody after a Kerala court on Friday, 19 September 2026, rejected his bail plea in an excise case linked to the seizure of liquor from his ancestral house in Wayanad. The order was pronounced by the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court at Sulthan Bathery.
The Excise Case and Arrest
Augustine was arrested by the Excise Department in the early hours of Thursday, shortly after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) completed multi-location searches at his office and properties. The searches were part of a probe into alleged financial irregularities linked to a proposed visit by football star Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to Kerala.
During the SIT search on Wednesday at Augustine's ancestral house at Vazhavatta in Wayanad, excise officials reportedly seized approximately 67 litres of liquor and wine. The seized stock is said to have included foreign-made liquor, wine, and other items allegedly not authorised for sale in India. The case has been registered under Sections 55(a), 55(i) and 58 of the Kerala Abkari Act.
An Excise team led by Assistant Commissioner Baiju reached the Reporter TV office in Kalamassery around 2.30 am on Thursday and arrested Augustine there. He was subsequently taken to Wayanad and produced before court, which on Thursday had sent him to judicial custody for 14 days. He is to be shifted to the District Jail at Mananthavady.
The SIT's Separate Messi-Argentina Investigation
The Kerala Police SIT is probing alleged cheating and financial irregularities surrounding a proposed football event involving Messi and the Argentina national team. Investigators conducted searches for several hours at the Reporter Broadcasting Company office and at premises linked to Augustine and his brothers in Kochi and Wayanad, seizing documents, records, and material reportedly relating to the Kaloor stadium. Financial transactions connected to the proposed event were also examined.
It is notable that the police action and the excise case are separate proceedings. A further tax-related inquiry has also reportedly flagged alleged financial irregularities involving Reporter Broadcasting Company.
Augustine's Response and Press Freedom Questions
Augustine had denied the liquor allegations and stated that he had cooperated with the Messi-episode investigation, handing over the documents sought by investigators. The timing of his arrest — coming within hours of the SIT searches — triggered criticism and questions, with commentators raising concerns about the action being taken against the head of a news organisation.
What Happens Next
With bail denied, Augustine is set to remain in the District Jail at Mananthavady as the excise case proceeds before the Bathery court. The SIT investigation into the proposed Messi-Argentina event is ongoing, and the separate tax-related inquiry into Reporter Broadcasting Company adds another legal dimension to the case. Legal observers expect Augustine's counsel to approach a higher court challenging the bail rejection.
Point of View
It would represent a serious misuse of public trust in a high-profile sporting diplomacy exercise. The tax inquiry into Reporter Broadcasting Company adds a third, less visible layer. Courts will ultimately test the merits of each strand separately — and they should.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Anto Augustine arrested?
Anto Augustine was arrested by the Kerala Excise Department after approximately 67 litres of liquor and wine, including items allegedly not authorised for sale in India, were seized from his ancestral house in Vazhavatta, Wayanad. The case is registered under Sections 55(a), 55(i) and 58 of the Kerala Abkari Act for alleged possession of liquor beyond the permissible limit.
Why was Anto Augustine's bail rejected?
The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court at Sulthan Bathery rejected Augustine's bail plea on Friday, 19 September 2026, allowing him to remain in judicial custody. He had been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by the same court the previous day and is to be shifted to the District Jail at Mananthavady.
What is the connection between Augustine's arrest and the Messi-Argentina event probe?
The Kerala Police SIT was probing alleged cheating and financial irregularities surrounding a proposed visit by Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to Kerala. The SIT searched Reporter Broadcasting Company offices and premises linked to Augustine in Kochi and Wayanad, after which the Excise Department carried out its own arrest — though the two cases are legally separate proceedings.
What did Augustine say about the allegations?
Augustine denied the liquor allegations and stated that he had cooperated with the SIT's investigation into the Messi episode, including handing over documents sought by investigators. His arrest, coming hours after the SIT searches, drew criticism and raised questions about press freedom.
What are the next legal steps in the case?
With bail denied by the Sulthan Bathery court, legal observers expect Augustine's lawyers to challenge the order in a higher Kerala court. The SIT probe into the Messi-Argentina event and a separate tax-related inquiry into Reporter Broadcasting Company continue alongside the excise case.
