{
  "id": 7947854,
  "title": "Keralam TV channel MD in Messi match row arrested in illegal liquor case",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/keralam-tv-channel-md-in-messi-match-row-arrested-in-illegal-liquor",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T04:05:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/thiruvananthapuram/anto-augustine-reporter-tv-arrested-liquor-case-kerala-10881513/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The managing editor and director of Reporter TV, Anto Augustine, was arrested on Thursday for alleged illegal possession of liquor. The excise department found 67 litres of illegal Indian-made foreign liquor and foreign-made foreign liquor stock during a search at Augustine's house in Wayanad. Augustine faces non-bailable offences and could potentially serve up to 10 years in prison if convicted. He denied the charges, stating he had never consumed alcohol and had handed over all documents related to the Messi match row. The arrest came after Kerala Police raided Reporter TV, sparked political controversy, and led to a probe by the state government into alleged cheating and financial irregularities related to the Messi match sponsorship deal.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Messi event row: SIT raids TV channel in probe into financial gaps",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/messi-event-row-sit-raids-tv-channel-in-probe-into-financial-gaps",
        "published": "2026-09-17T02:33:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}