Anto Augustine skips police questioning in case over Keralam CM’s marriage remarks, approaches HC to quash FIR

Reporter TV CEO Anto Augustine failed to appear before Kalamassery police summoned him for questioning on Monday (September 28, 2026) in connection with his controversial comment regarding Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan.

Mr. Augustine responded to the police report that he could not appear before the investigators due to some inconvenience and requested more time, according to his lawyer. He said Mr. Augustine had meanwhile filed an application in the Kerala High Court to quash the FIR registered against him on the complaint of Congress spokesperson Raju P. Nair.

Mr. Augustine sought to quash the FIR on the ground that the police could not register a case due to the alleged defamation and that the complaint had not been filed by the alleged affected party, the lawyer said.

Mr Augustine was asked to report to police at 10am on Monday. Last week, the police recorded the statement of Mr. Nair.

The police have registered a case against Mr. Augustin and two unknown persons.

The case concerns Mr Augustin’s revelation that two people met him with what they claimed was a journalistic allusion to Mr Satheesan’s alleged second marriage. He claimed his channel was not broadcasting the news after his team could not verify the claim.

Mr Nair said he was suspicious of the context in which Mr Augustine made the alleged revelation and was looking to probe a possible conspiracy behind the episode.

The police have registered a case under various sections relating to alleged conspiracy, forgery and criminal defamation.

Published – 28 Sep 2026 12:42 IST