1 hr ago
Kerala High Court Denies Interim Bail to Reporter TV MD
A court in Kerala refused to temporarily release Anto Augustine from custody.
Augustine leads Reporter TV.
Officials say they found about 67 litres of liquor at a house in Wayanad.
They arrested him because the amount was allegedly more than legally allowed.
Augustine says he sold the property in 2022 and did not control it when the liquor was found.
Prosecutors say he still had a connection to the building because property tax was paid in his name in March 2026.
The judge said paying tax alone does not prove that someone owns or possesses a building.
Another court had already refused him bail because the investigation is still at an early stage.
The High Court will consider the matter again on Tuesday.
The Kerala High Court denied interim bail to Reporter TV managing director Anto Augustine.
Excise officials arrested Augustine after approximately 67 litres of liquor were found at a Wayanad property.
Augustine argued he sold the property in 2022 and no longer possessed it.
The prosecution cited property-tax payment under Augustine’s name in March 2026 as evidence of his connection to the building.
The High Court scheduled a final hearing for Tuesday while questioning the need for continued detention after the recovery.
- Who
- Anto Augustine, managing director of Reporter TV, and Kerala Excise officials are central to the case.
- What
- The Kerala High Court denied Augustine interim bail in a liquor-possession case involving approximately 67 litres of alcohol.
- Where
- The liquor was found at a residential property in Varavetta, Wayanad, Kerala.
- When
- The High Court denied interim bail on Friday and scheduled a final hearing for Tuesday; Augustine has been in custody since September 17.
- Why
- The court declined interim bail while a custody application was pending, although it questioned the need for continued detention after the liquor had been recovered.
Augustine’s Position
Prosecution’s Position
Possession of the property
Augustine’s Position
Augustine argued that he sold the property in 2022 and no longer possessed it when the liquor was seized.
Prosecution’s Position
The prosecution argued that Augustine remained connected to the building, citing property tax paid under his name in March 2026.
Need for continued custody
Augustine’s Position
The petitioner pointed out that he is the only accused in the liquor case and has been in judicial custody since September 17.
Prosecution’s Position
The prosecution opposed bail, while the lower court cited the early stage of the investigation, the nature of the recovery and Augustine’s reported criminal antecedents.
Meaning of property-tax payment
Augustine’s Position
The petitioner’s argument was that tax payment does not establish current possession after a sale.
Prosecution’s Position
The prosecution relied on the tax payment as evidence connecting Augustine to the property, though the High Court questioned whether it proved ownership or possession.
Key facts
- Accused
- Anto Augustine, managing director of Reporter TV
- Liquor recovered
- Approximately 67 litres
- Discovery location
- A residential property in Varavetta, Wayanad
- Arresting agency
- Excise officials
- High Court judge
- Justice Kauser Edappagath
- Property dispute
- Augustine says he sold the property in 2022; the prosecution cited property-tax payment in his name in March 2026
- Next hearing
- Tuesday
Quotes
Justice Kauser Edappagath
Kerala High Court judge presiding over the interim bail proceedings
“Suppose this building is sold, the possession follows. Maybe he might have paid tax. That doesn’t mean that he owns the property. Produce some other document to show that he is actually in possession.”
thestatesman.com
“Since the custody application is moved, it is not proper on my part to grant interim bail at this stage.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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