Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Court Rejects TV Channel MD’s Bail in Liquor Seizure Case
A court in Sultan Bathery refused bail to television company director Anto Augustine.
Officials said they found more liquor than legally allowed at his ancestral house.
The Excise Department registered a case under the Abkari Act.
The discovery happened during an investigation into a failed football event.
Augustine said he did not know the bottles were there.
The Excise Department said it needed more time to find where the liquor came from.
Augustine was sent to Wayanad district jail.
The court ordered that he be brought back on Saturday after officials requested custody.
A Sultan Bathery court rejected Anto Augustine’s bail petition on Friday.
The Excise Department charged Augustine under the Abkari Act after seizing liquor above the permissible limit.
The liquor was found at Augustine’s ancestral house in Wayanad.
The seizure emerged during an SIT investigation into alleged irregularities involving a failed football event sponsored by Augustine’s company.
Augustine remains in judicial custody until September 30, while the Excise Department seeks his custody for further investigation.
- Who
- Anto Augustine, Managing Director of Reporter Broadcasting Company, and the Excise Department.
- What
- A court rejected Augustine’s bail petition in a liquor-seizure case registered under the Abkari Act.
- When
- The bail petition was dismissed on Friday; Augustine was remanded until September 30 and ordered to appear again on Saturday.
- Where
- Sultan Bathery, Wayanad; Augustine was shifted to Wayanad district jail in Mananthavady.
- Why
- The Excise Department said further investigation was needed to establish the source of liquor seized above the permissible limit.
Augustine’s Position
Excise Department’s Position
Knowledge and Bail
Augustine’s Position
Augustine claimed he was unaware of the liquor bottles and sought bail.
Excise Department’s Position
The Excise Department opposed bail, arguing that a detailed investigation was needed to determine the source of the seized liquor.
- Accused
- Anto Augustine, Managing Director of Reporter Broadcasting Company
- Court
- Sultan Bathery Judicial First Class Magistrate Court
- Case law
- Abkari Act
- Seized material
- Liquor above the permissible limit
- Seizure location
- Augustine’s ancestral house in Wayanad
- Custody status
- Judicial custody until September 30
- Investigation link
- The seizure was referred to the Excise Department by a Special Investigation Team probing alleged irregularities in a failed football event