Kochi: The investigation into alleged fraud linked to football star Lionel Messi's proposed visit to Kerala has now shifted towards two separate excise cases involving liquor seized from the residence of Reporter TV managing director Anto Augustine.

Augustine, chief of Malayalam news channel Reporter, was arrested under the Kerala Abkari Act on Thursday morning after foreign liquor was allegedly found at his residence. Police had seized 63 litres of foreign liquor from the house while investigating the alleged fraud connected with the proposed Messi visit.

A separate Excise case has also been registered over the seizure of alleged illicit liquor from the same residence. According to the Excise Crime and Occurrence Report, 12.75 litres of counterfeit liquor were seized from a first-floor room of the house.

Anto says he does not drink

Augustine, who was arrested in the Excise case, said he was unaware of the liquor seized from his house.

He said he does not drink and has never consumed alcohol in his life. Augustine also said he did not know about the case related to the liquor allegedly stored illegally at his residence.

Regarding the Messi sponsorship case, Augustine said the police-related proceedings in that matter had been completed. He said his arrest was in connection with the case registered by the Excise department. 

Excise report lists illicit liquor seizure

The Excise report states that the liquor was stored at the residence without the permission or licence of the state government.

The department has invoked Sections 55(a), 55(i) and 58 of the Kerala Abkari Act, 1077. Section 55(a) deals with illegal possession or transportation of liquor, while Section 55(i) relates to keeping liquor for sale. Section 58 concerns possession of illicit liquor.

The report says non-bailable sections were included in the case following the seizure. Augustine is the only accused named in the Excise occurrence report.

Foreign liquor also seized

The Excise department's seizure records give details of several types of liquor recovered from the residence.

The seizure included more than 12.75 litres of counterfeit liquor or alcohol-containing beverages, along with more than 43 litres of Foreign Made Foreign Liquor (FMFL). More than one litre of Foreign Made Foreign Wine and more than six litres of Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) wine were also seized.

The Excise team prepared a 27-page occurrence report on the case. It contains details of the liquor bottles recovered from different parts of the house, including the labels on the bottles.

The department said Augustine would be arrested and produced before the court, after which further proceedings would be taken in the case.