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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.

A detailed order is awaited.

Dr. Justice Kauser Edappagath passed the order granting bail on conditions.

The Court noted that recovery was effected in the case already and that Augustine did not have any criminal antecedents.

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.

The petition is moved by Advocates M.P. Shameem Ahamed and Mohammed Firdouz A.V.

Case No: Bail Appl. 5439/2026

Case Title: Anto Augustine v. State of Kerala

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