Published Oct 01, 2026 | 5:45 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 01, 2026 | 5:45 PM
Anto Augustine
Synopsis: KPCC spokesperson Raju P. Nair filed a complaint alleging a conspiracy to damage Satheesan’s reputation using fabricated documents. The case was initially registered as a Zero FIR by the Thiruvananthapuram City Cyber Crime Police before being transferred to Kalamassery Police.
Reporter TV MD Anto Augustine appeared before the Kalamassery police on Thursday, 1 October, for questioning in a case involving an alleged attempt to defame Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan using forged documents.
Augustine appeared following a fresh police notice after missing an earlier summons on 28 September citing inconvenience.
The case stems from allegations made by Augustine while speaking at a public programme on September 11. He alleged that two people had approached him with documents and claimed CM Satheeshan had secretly entered into a second marriage.
According to Augustine, the documents claimed that the CM had registered the alleged marriage at the Byndoor Sub-Registrar’s Office on October 17, 2012, while his first marriage was still valid.
He claimed that he chose not to publish the allegations on his Reporter TV channel because he suspected that the documents were fabricated. Augustine also said he had asked reporters to verify the documents at the registrar’s office, where officials could not find any records matching them.
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However, his remarks triggered a major controversy in the state, and a defamation case was registered based on the complaint of KPCC spokesperson Raju P. Nair. Nair alleged that Augustine’s claims were part of a conspiracy to tarnish Satheesan’s image for political gains and destabilise the government.
The complainant also alleged that the documents were forged and sought their seizure and examination of CCTV footage from the Reporter TV office to identify the two persons who allegedly handed them over to Augustine.
The FIR invoked provisions of the BNS relating to forgery, tampering with public records, criminal conspiracy, defamation and the use of forged documents.
Augustine has been named the first accused, while two unidentified persons have been booked as the second and third accused.
The case was initially registered as a Zero FIR by the Thiruvananthapuram City Cyber Crime Police before being transferred to Kochi City Police.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
