Kerala High Court: Grants Bail to Reporter TV MD Anto Augustine in Abkari Case

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Anto Augustine, the managing director of Malayalam news channel Reporter TV, in an Abkari case [Anto Augustine v State of Kerala]Justice Kauser Edappagath passed the order on a bail plea filed by Augustine who was arrested over seizure of liquor beyond permissible limits from his residence in Wayanad.The Director General of Prosecution T Asaf Ali had opposed his bail, arguing that Augustine remained silent during the interrogation and had not cooperated with the police.However, the Court orally remarked that, "An accused is not supposed to answer all questions put by the investigating officer. The Supreme Court has repeatedly said so."It further questioned the state's need for Augustine's continued detention after the alleged illegal liquor had been recovered and his custodial interrogation had been completed. Justice Kauser EdappagathThe question of Augustine's connection with the property from which the alleged illegal liquor was recovered had also come up during the previous hearing.Augustine had argued that the property was sold in a bank auction in 2022 and that he was no longer in possession of it.After hearing both Augustine and State, the Court today granted him bail, subject to conditions including his appearance before the investigating officer.Augustine was arrested by the Excise department on September 17, a day after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Kerala Police searched his offices and residences.The search