Kerala HC grants bail to Reporter TV MD Anto Augustine in liquor possession case

Anto Augustin | Photo credit: The Hindu

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (September 22, 2026) granted bail to Reporter TV Editor-in-Chief Anto Augustine in a case registered for possession of alcohol above the legal limit.

Justice Kauser Edapppagath granted bail in Mr Augustin’s appeal against the order of First Class Magistrate, Sulthan Bathery.

Mr. Augustine claimed that the house where the alcohol was allegedly seized had already been sold under the SARFAESI Act in 2022. However, Director General of Public Prosecutions T. Asaf Ali pointed out that Mr. Augustine had paid the tax on the building in March 2026.

The authorities reportedly found 43,850 liters of Foreign Made Foreign Liquor, 1,224 liters of Foreign Made Foreign Wine, 6,250 liters of wine originating from Bevco, 750 ml of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) said to have been purchased from an army canteen and 12,750 liters of liquor containing alcohol allegedly owned by Mr. Muttilapp Wuguz.

Published – 22 Sep 2026 12:42 IST