Published Sep 16, 2026 | 9:03 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 16, 2026 | 9:21 AM
Police at Reporter TV news room on September 16 morning. (Special Arrangement)
Synopsis: The Special Investigation Team reached the Reporter TV office in Kalamassery around 4 am and searched it and the residences of the Augustine brothers as part of the investigation into the alleged multi-crore financial fraud linked to the proposed Messi event. Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday condemned the Kerala Police action as a “despicable assault on press freedom”.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged financial irregularities surrounding the proposed visit of football superstar Lionel Messi and the Argentine national team to Keralam conducted coordinated searches at multiple locations across the state early Wednesday.
The searches, carried out under a court order, were ordered by the head of the team, ADGP P Vijayan, and began in the early hours.
The operation covered five locations, including the Kochi and Wayanad residences of Augustine brothers Anto Augustine and Joskutty Augustine, who head Reporter Broadcasting Company (RBC), the headquarters of Reporter TV at Kalamassery and the office of GOTAD.
Police teams reached the Reporter TV office in Kalamassery around 4 am and carried out a search as part of the investigation into the alleged multi-crore financial fraud linked to the proposed football event.
The case stems from allegations of irregularities in connection with plans to bring the Argentina team and Messi to Keralam.
The SIT has registered an FIR at the Kalamassery police station, invoking charges including cheating, fraud and conspiracy.
Reporter Broadcasting Company and Anto Augustine have been named as the accused in the case.
The investigation had earlier brought RBC under scrutiny over alleged tax evasion of ₹25.78 crore, according to police sources.
The searches were conducted simultaneously at the residences of the Augustine brothers in Kochi, their ancestral house in Wayanad, the Reporter TV office and the GOTAD office.
RBC, meanwhile, has strongly objected to the police action at its office, alleging that the search disrupted the functioning of the newsroom.
The media organisation claimed that police personnel entered the news desk, which it said was an area meant for journalists and technical staff, and seized mobile phones belonging to employees.
Reporter TV termed the action “police thuggery” and alleged harassment of its staff.
The channel said the search at its Kochi office was being conducted by the Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner of Police as part of the wider SIT operation.
The police have not, so far, publicly responded to the allegations made by the media organisation.
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday condemned the Kerala Police action at the Reporter TV headquarters in Kochi, alleging that a police team stormed the news desk, confiscated journalists’ mobile phones and disrupted the channel’s broadcast.
Pinarayi said the police presence created an atmosphere of “terror” at the newsroom for nearly one-and-a-half hours and alleged that the journalists were also filmed.
Describing the action as “aggression reminiscent of the Emergency era”, Vijayan said the incident was comparable to attacks on media organisations in BJP-ruled States and Delhi.
He also drew a parallel with the Enforcement Directorate’s action against NewsClick, alleging that equipment was seized and its editor imprisoned.
“Keralam will not tolerate this act of aggression aimed at silencing the media,” Vijayan said, demanding answers from the Chief Minister and Home Minister.
He termed the police action a “despicable assault on press freedom” and strongly condemned it.
The SIT was formed by the Home Department and is headed by ADGP (Law and Order) Vijayan. The team includes S Sateesh Bino, IG of Police, Internal Security; P Vikraman, SP, Crime Branch, Kozhikode and Wayanad; Shyju PL, DySP, Crime Branch, Wayanad; and Mathew, DySP, Crime Branch, Kozhikode Range.
The SIT has estimated the total tax evasion at ₹25.78 crore.
Of this, ₹22.68 crore relates to IGST that was allegedly not paid under the Reverse Charge Mechanism (RCM) on foreign payments made to the Argentina Football Association (AFA).
According to the SIT, RBC transferred $1.45 crore, equivalent to ₹126.04 crore, to the AFA through its collection agent, Tour Prod Enter LLC.
The investigation also found five other foreign payments totalling ₹1.90 crore made to overseas legal counsel. The SIT said RBC had not paid ₹34.15 lakh as RCM IGST on these transactions.
Also Read:
Messi event: SIT flags ₹25.78-crore GST evasion by Reporter Broadcaster Company; case registered
Proposed Messi event in Keralam: ED registers FEMA case over alleged ₹126 crore fund transfer
