Reporter TV MD Anto Augustine gets fresh Kerala Police notice to appear Thursday
Synopsis
Reporter TV MD Anto Augustine skipped his first police summons and tried to push his appearance past 5 October — but Kalamassery police refused, issuing a fresh notice for Thursday. The case, involving alleged forged documents and defamatory remarks about Kerala CM V.D. Satheesan, is deepening as Augustine simultaneously battles the Muttil tree-felling case and a recent Abkari arrest.
Key Takeaways
Kalamassery police issued a fresh notice to Reporter TV MD Anto Augustine to appear on Thursday, 3 October .
Augustine failed to appear on Monday, 30 September ; his lawyer sought a delay until after 5 October , which police rejected.
The FIR was filed on a complaint by KPCC spokesperson Raju P.
Nair over remarks allegedly targeting the personal life of CM V.D.
Augustine and two others are alleged to have knowingly kept forged documents in their possession as part of a conspiracy.
Augustine reportedly plans to approach the Kerala High Court to seek quashing of the FIR.
He is simultaneously facing proceedings in the Muttil tree-felling cases and was recently granted bail in an Abkari Act case.
Kalamassery police in Kerala have issued a fresh notice to Reporter TV Managing Director Anto Augustine, directing him to appear for questioning on Thursday, 3 October, in a case linked to his alleged defamatory remarks targeting Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief and Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan. The development follows Augustine's failure to appear before police on the originally scheduled date of Monday, 30 September.
Why Augustine Missed the First Notice
Augustine's legal counsel informed the Kalamassery police that the media executive was not in the city and would only be available after 5 October. The police rejected the request outright, stating they could not grant that much additional time. A fresh summons was subsequently issued, mandating his appearance at the Kalamassery police station on Thursday.
What the Case Is About
The First Information Report (FIR) stems from a complaint filed by KPCC spokesperson Raju P. Nair, who alleged that Augustine made remarks at a public function approximately two weeks ago with the intent to publicly insult Chief Minister Satheesan. At the event, Augustine claimed that two young men had approached him with documents relating to an alleged marriage of the Chief Minister. He further stated that he had conducted a personal inquiry into these documents at the Baindoor Sub-Registrar's Office and that the documents remained in his possession.
The remarks immediately triggered a political controversy, as they were widely perceived as an allegation concerning the Chief Minister's personal life. Following a direction from the Director General of Police, a case was registered. The FIR alleges that Augustine and two others were involved in a conspiracy and had knowingly kept forged documents in their possession.
What Investigators Are Examining
Police are currently probing the origin and authenticity of the documents in question, as well as the circumstances under which they came into Augustine's possession. The complainant has also sought the seizure of those documents and examination of CCTV footage to identify individuals allegedly involved in preparing them.
Augustine's Legal Background and Next Steps
This case arrives as Augustine already faces legal proceedings on multiple fronts. He is reportedly embroiled in the Muttil tree-felling cases and was recently arrested in an Abkari Act matter, for which he was subsequently granted bail. Augustine had earlier indicated his intention to approach the Kerala High Court seeking the quashing of the FIR in the current case. Police are now awaiting his appearance on Thursday as the investigation proceeds.
Point of View
Political rivalry, and Kerala's increasingly litigious public sphere. Augustine's pattern of missed appearances and last-minute legal manoeuvres risks being read as stonewalling, which could harden the police position and accelerate judicial scrutiny. More significantly, the allegation of forged documents, if proven, would carry consequences far graver than defamation. Mainstream coverage has focused on the political controversy around CM Satheesan, but the deeper question — who prepared the documents and how they reached a media executive — remains unanswered and underreported.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Anto Augustine been issued a fresh police notice in Kerala?
Anto Augustine, Managing Director of Reporter TV, was issued a fresh notice by Kalamassery police because he failed to appear for questioning on 30 September as originally directed. His lawyer sought a postponement until after 5 October, which police rejected, leading to the new summons for Thursday.
What are the allegations against Anto Augustine in this case?
Augustine allegedly made remarks at a public function claiming that two young men had brought him documents related to an alleged marriage of Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. The FIR, filed on a complaint by KPCC spokesperson Raju P. Nair, alleges that Augustine and two others conspired and knowingly kept forged documents in their possession.
Who filed the complaint against Anto Augustine?
KPCC spokesperson Raju P. Nair filed the complaint, alleging that Augustine made the remarks with the intention of publicly insulting Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. The case was registered following a direction from the Director General of Police.
What legal action is Augustine considering?
Augustine has reportedly indicated his intention to approach the Kerala High Court to seek quashing of the FIR registered against him in this matter.
What other legal cases is Anto Augustine facing?
Augustine is reportedly facing proceedings in the Muttil tree-felling cases and was recently arrested under the Abkari Act, for which he was subsequently granted bail. The current defamation-linked FIR adds to his accumulating legal challenges.
