Keralam: Private news channel MD arrested in Abkari Act violation

Malayalam news channel MD Anto Augustine was arrested by Kerala Excise officials after 67 litres of liquor was allegedly recovered from his ancestral house in Wayanad. The arrest followed an SIT probe into irregularities surrounding a failed Lionel Messi football event

Kochi: The Managing Director of a private Malayalam news channel was arrested by Excise officials from Kalamassery here in the wee hours of Thursday after liquor above 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 the police report after they recovered liquor above the permissible limit during the search, they said.

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The Special Investigation Team (SIT) 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’s star player Lionel Messi 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 shifted to Wayanad, Excise officials said.

“Regarding the Messi-related football match probe, all documents have been given, and the search is over. The arrest is now made in an Excise case. Let’s see,” Augustine told reporters.

He said Excise officials detained him 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 and was unaware of it.

“I don’t know about it as I was in Kochi. Let’s see,” he said.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the SIT had not done anything wrong as the searches were conducted after obtaining warrants.

“The home minister won’t interfere in any police investigation. Let the investigation go on. The law will take its course,” he said.

He denied opposition allegations that there was an emergency-like situation in Keralam and said several mediapersons 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 that the department has taken lawful action and executed 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.