Published Sep 16, 2026 | 11:35 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 16, 2026 | 11:35 AM
Police at Reporter TV newsroom on September 16 morning. (Special Arrangement)
Synopsis: A SIT of the Keralam police carried out simultaneous searches at the residences of the controversial Augustine brothers and the office of their news channel, Reporter TV, from 4 am on Wednesday. While the SIT and the government justified the inspections, the opposition and a journalists’ body condemned the move as an attempt to curb “press freedom.”
Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan justified the Special Investigation Team (SIT)’s simultaneous inspections at the residences of the controversial Augustine brothers and their television news channel.
Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, 16 September, Satheesan refuted the charge that the inspection affected the functioning of the Reporter channel’s newsroom.
“I came to know about the search from that news channel itself. Then, how could it be said that the functioning was obstructed?” he asked.
The chief minister said the SIT was formed based on the findings of the Sports and GST departments.
The SIT, headed by ADGP P Vijayan, was formed to probe the alleged financial irregularities surrounding the claimed — and cancelled — visit of football superstar Lionel Messi and the Argentine national team to Keralam. The team conducted coordinated searches at multiple locations across the state early on Wednesday.
Satheesan said the searches were being carried out according to the law. He said police seizing journalists’ mobile phones was part of the investigation.
In response to the Opposition Leader’s remarks, the chief minister recalled police actions against journalists during the LDF rule.
“I noticed the statement of the Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan regarding the search and call to uphold the rights of journalists. But I would like to remind everyone that during the 10 years of Left government, several media houses and journalists faced police action. For example, police raided Mangalam TV, Asianet News, Marunadan Malayali, and others. There were also incidents in which cases were registered against journalists for reporting news or exposing some irregularities during the Left government,” he said.
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ADGP Vijayan said the SIT prima facie found a cognizable offence and hence carried out the inspections.
“An FIR was registered at Kalamassery Police Station. To move the investigation forward, the inquiry officer had to verify the documents, and a search was initiated. The magistrate also issued a search warrant. At present, the team is conducting searches at five locations. Anto Augustine, as well as the Reporter Broadcasting Corporation itself, is on the accused list.
The ADGP also denied reports that the search team obstructed the newsroom’s functioning. Contrary to the chief minister’s statement, he denied that police seized journalists’ mobile phones.
“You can look at the search register. You can verify it yourself,” the ADGP told media persons.
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. They searched it 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.
Police simultaneously searched the Augustine brothers’ residences in Kochi, their ancestral house in Wayanad, the Reporter TV office, and the GOTAD office.
RBC, meanwhile, strongly objected to the police action at its office, alleging that the search disrupted the newsroom’s functioning.
The media organisation claimed police personnel entered the news desk, which it said was meant for journalists and technical staff, and seized employees’ mobile phones.
Reporter TV termed the action “police thuggery” and alleged harassment of its staff.
The channel said the Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner of Police searched its Kochi office as part of the wider SIT operation.
Also Read: Why CPI(M) regularly target news channel Asianet in Kerala?
Pinarayi Vijayan 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.
Vijayan 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 it seized equipment and imprisoned its editor.
“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.
Also Read: How CPI(M) in Kerala displays double standards on liberty, free speech
Besides ADGP (Law and Order) Vijayan, the SIT comprises 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: KUWJ slams police raids at houses of Marunadan Malayali employees
The Ernakulam District Committee of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) condemned the pre-dawn police inspection at the Reporter TV studio, alleging that the action obstructed journalists from carrying out their duties.
In a statement, District President R Gopakumar and Secretary M Shajil Kumar termed the police intrusion into the media establishment “highly condemnable and objectionable”.
They said they would submit complaints to Chief Minister V D Satheesan, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and the State Police Chief over what they described as an encroachment on press freedom.
The committee also criticised the seizure of journalists’ phones and the alleged creation of a “scene of terror” at the newsroom, calling the police action deeply reprehensible.
