Abkari Case: Reporter TV Managing Editor Anto Augustine Sent to Excise Custody

Wayanad: Reporter TV Managing Editor Anto Augustine, who was arrested in connection with the seizure of liquor from a house in Vazhavatta, Wayanad, has been remanded in Excise custody. The Sulthan Bathery Judicial First Class Magistrate Court ordered that he be kept in custody for one day. The custody will continue until noon on Sunday. The Excise department had sought four days of custody, arguing before the court that a detailed investigation was needed to determine where the liquor had been brought from. The defence argued that the house from which the liquor was seized did not belong to Anto. The prosecution, however, maintained that Muttil panchayat records showed that the house belonged to him. Anto, who was arrested from the Reporter TV office in Kochi early Thursday, was brought to Wayanad around 11.30 am.