Court reserves ruling on Anto Augustine’s anticipatory bail plea

The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court, on Thursday (September 24, 2026), reserved its order on the anticipatory bail plea moved by Reporter TV managing director Anto Augustine in the case related to the alleged multi-crore fraud behind the failed bid to bring Argentina football team led by Lionel Messi to Keralam.

The court is likely to pass verdict on Friday. Mr. Augustine moved the application anticipating an imminent move to arrest him after the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case carried out search operations at the headquarters of Reporter Broadcasting Private Limited and locations linked to him and his brothers last week. Incidentally, he was arrested and remanded in judicial custody in an Abkari case registered by the excise after 67 litres of liquor, which was beyond the permissible limit, were seized from his ancestral home in Wayanad. He has since secured bail from the High Court.