Kochi, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : The Kalamassery police in Kerala have issued a new notice to Anto Augustine, the controversial Managing Director of Reporter TV. He is required to appear for questioning on Thursday regarding alleged derogatory comments made about Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.
Initially, police had asked Augustine to appear on Monday, but he failed to do so. His lawyer informed the police that Augustine was out of town and would be available only after October 5. The police rejected this request, stating they could not grant such an extension. Subsequently, a new notice was issued, mandating his appearance at the Kalamassery police station on Thursday.
Augustine has previously indicated his intention to approach the Kerala High Court to seek the cancellation of the First Information Report (FIR) filed against him. This case stems from a complaint by Raju P. Nair, the spokesperson for the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), regarding comments made by Augustine at a public event two weeks ago.
During his remarks, Augustine claimed that two young men had approached him with documents related to the Chief Minister’s alleged marriage. He asserted that he had verified these documents at the Bendore sub-registrar’s office and that they were in his possession. These statements have ignited a political controversy, as they are perceived as an attack on the Chief Minister’s personal life. Following this, Nair contacted the police, accusing Augustine of making these comments with the intent to publicly insult the Chief Minister.
The case was registered under the directive of the Director General of Police. The FIR alleges that Augustine and two others were involved in a conspiracy and had intentionally kept false documents. The police are currently investigating the source and authenticity of these documents and are trying to determine how Augustine obtained them.
The complainant has also requested the examination of CCTV footage to identify those involved in preparing and seizing the documents. This incident occurs as Augustine faces legal proceedings in several other cases, including one concerning illegal tree cutting in Muttill. He was recently arrested in an excise case but was granted bail shortly thereafter. The police are now preparing for Augustine’s appearance on Thursday as they continue their investigation into the allegations.
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