The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (September 22) granted regular bail to Reporter TV Managing Director Anto Augustine, who is booked in an excise case for illegal possession of large quantities of alcohol in his residence in Wayanad.
"there is a serious dispute regarding the applicant's ownership, possession and occupation over the building from where the contraband was seized.
To counter this argument, Augustine pointed out that though ownership is transferred, mutation in the revenue records were not effected.
The Court was of the view that Augustine was entitled to bail and allowed his plea on conditions.
5439/2026Case Title: Anto Augustine v. State of KeralaCitation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 519Counsel for the petitioner: S. Sreekumar (Sr.), M.P.
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (September 22) granted regular bail to Reporter TV Managing Director Anto Augustine, who is booked in an excise case for illegal possession of large quantities of alcohol in his residence in Wayanad. [2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 519]
Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath noted that recovery was effected in the case already and that Augustine was also handed over to police custody.
"there is a serious dispute regarding the applicant's ownership, possession and occupation over the building from where the contraband was seized. Even though the applicant has criminal antecedents, he is not involved in any other crime of similar nature. For these reasons, I do not find any reason to hold that the continued detention of the applicant is required for any purpose," the Court observed.
Augustine is arrayed as the accused in a crime registered by the Excise Station, Kalpetta for the offences under Sections 55(a), 55(i) [For illegal import, etc.] and 58 [For possession of illicit liquor] of the Kerala Abkari Act.
It is alleged that he was found to be in possession of 43.850 litres of Foreign Made Foreign Liquor, 1.224 litres of Foreign Made Foreign Wine, 6.250 litres of KSBC wine, 750 ml of Indian Made Foreign Liquor stated to have been purchased from the canteen, and 12.750 litres of liquid containing alcohol.
He was arrested at 5:00 am on September 17 and was remanded to judicial custody. The Magistrate had denied him bail and had granted 24 hours' custody to the police.
Augustine contended that he was not in possession of the building from which the alcohol was recovered and that the same was sold as early as in 2022 in SARFAESI proceedings. The prosecution argued that Augustine was still in possession of the property and submitted that all other documents, such as electricity, water, voters' lists, etc., stand in the name of the applicant. To counter this argument, Augustine pointed out that though ownership is transferred, mutation in the revenue records were not effected.
The Court was of the view that Augustine was entitled to bail and allowed his plea on conditions.
Case No: Bail Appl. 5439/2026
Case Title: Anto Augustine v. State of Kerala
Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 519
Counsel for the petitioner: S. Sreekumar (Sr.), M.P. Shameem Ahamed and Mohammed Firdouz A.V.
Counsel for the respondent: T. Asaf Ali - Director General of Prosecution, Laliza T.Y. - Senior GP, Rasheed C. Nooranad - Special GP
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