Anto Augustine
The prosecution, however, opposed his petition to return US$6,200 seized by SIT during the search operations. Kochi : Ernakulam principal sessions court has postponed the anticipatory bail plea moved by Reporter TV managing director Anto Augustine to Saturday for orders. The case pertains to the alleged fraud case against Augustine in connection with the failed plan to bring the World Cup-winning Argentina football team, including Lionel Messi , to Kochi. However, the prosecution sought copies of the documents submitted by the defence along with the anticipatory bail application, following which the order was postponed. The anticipatory bail plea was moved by Augustine fearing arrest after the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case carried out raids at the headquarters of Reporter TV and locations linked to him and his brothers. He was also arrested and remanded in judicial custody in an Abkari case registered by the excise after liquor, beyond the permissible limit, was found at his ancestral home in Wayanad during the raids. He secured bail from high court in this case. The prosecution, meanwhile, informed the court that SIT had no immediate plans to arrest him other than to summon him for interrogation. He has also moved the court for anticipatory bail in another case registered based on his claims that someone approached him saying that chief minister V D Satheesan had entered into a second marriage.
The court had posted the case for orders on Friday after arguments from both sides concluded on Thursday.