Malayalam news channel MD arrested in excise case amid Messi event probe
The Excise department registered a case against Anto Augustine based on a police report after the liquor was recovered during the search, officials said
Kochi, Sep 17 (PTI) The MD of a private Malayalam news channel was arrested by Excise officials from Kalamassery here in the wee hours of Thursday after liquor in excess of the permissible limit was recovered during a police search at his ancestral house in Wayanad, Excise officials said.
The Excise department registered a case against Anto Augustine based on a police report after the liquor was recovered during the search, they said.
The Special Investigation Team on Wednesday searched the office and residences of Augustine and his two brothers in Kochi and Wayanad as part of a probe into alleged irregularities in a failed football event featuring Argentina star Lionel Messi and sponsored by Reporter Broadcasting Company.
The Excise case was registered under various non-bailable sections of the Abkari Act for possessing liquor in excess of the permissible quantity, officials said.
Augustine was arrested and later taken to Wayanad, Excise officials said.
“Regarding the Messi-related football match probe, all documents have been given, and the search is over. The arrest has now been made in an Excise case. Let’s see,” Augustine told reporters.
He said Excise officials detained him at around 2 am and informed him about the case only at around 4.30 am.
“I have never consumed liquor and have not used it in my life. But I don’t know about this Excise case. Let’s go and see,” he said.
Asked about the 67 litres of liquor seized from his house, he said he was in Kochi at the time and was unaware of it.
“I don’t know about it as I was in Kochi. Let’s see,” he said.
In the evening, Augustine was produced before a court in Sultan Bathery in Wayanad.
His lawyer moved a bail application, which was considered by the court.
The Excise department opposed the bail plea, submitting that Augustine’s custodial interrogation was necessary to ascertain the source of the liquor recovered from his house in Wayanad.
After hearing both sides, the court decided to consider the bail application again on Friday.
The court remanded Augustine to judicial custody and ordered that he be shifted to the district jail in Mananthavady.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the SIT had not done anything wrong as the searches were conducted after obtaining warrants.
“The Home minister will not interfere in any police investigation. Let the investigation go on. The law will take its course,” he said.
He denied the Opposition’s allegations that there was an emergency-like situation in Keralam and said several media persons had been booked during the previous Pinarayi Vijayan government.
“If anyone did anything illegal, there will be action on the part of the police,” he said.
Similarly, Excise Minister M Liju said the department had taken lawful action and discharged its responsibility.
“It is based on the preliminary information on which the case is registered. According to the information provided to me, it was done lawfully—not to harass or show special favour to anyone. As far as I can understand, the law took its course,” he said. PTI