The Crossbill News Desk
The Kerala Police’s early-morning search at the Kochi office of Malayalam news channel Reporter TV on Wednesday (September 16) has triggered a confrontation over press freedom, with the channel alleging that journalists’ phones were seized and newsroom operations disrupted, while the police have denied both claims.
The search was part of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged financial irregularities linked to the proposed Lionel Messi-Argentina football event in Kerala, South First reported.
The SIT conducted coordinated searches at five locations, including the Reporter Broadcasting Company (RBC) office in Kalamassery and the Kochi and Wayanad residences of the Augustine brothers, who head the media group. The searches followed the registration of an FIR at Kalamassery police station, with RBC and Anto Augustine named as accused in the case. The investigation concerns alleged cheating, conspiracy and financial irregularities surrounding arrangements for bringing Messi and the Argentina national team to Kerala, Onmanorama reported.
The action at the Reporter TV newsroom began in the early hours and, according to the media organisation, lasted around one-and-a-half hours. Anto Augustine subsequently described the police action as a “despicable assault on press freedom”. The statement issued by him alleged that although the police claimed to possess a warrant for the administrative block, officers entered the newsroom and seized personal mobile phones belonging to journalists on duty.
Reporter TV also said the police presence disrupted its live broadcast during the search. According to the channel, the operation began around 5 am and continued for about 1.5 hours.
The police have disputed the account. ADGP P. Vijayan said the SIT had obtained a search warrant from a magistrate after conducting a preliminary inquiry into the allegations.
“After the SIT was formed, we had ordered a preliminary probe. We had collected the reports from the sports department and collected necessary statements. As we prima facie believe there is a cognizable offence in the matter, an FIR was registered and a search warrant secured from the magistrate’s court. Anto Augustine is the first accused and RBC is the second accused. We have not disrupted the news telecast. We have not seized the mobile phones of any journalists as alleged. We have also videographed the entire process,” ADGP P. Vijayan said, according to The Indian Express.
The police have said the searches were conducted under a court order and formed part of the investigation into the failed Messi-Argentina event. The SIT has also flagged an alleged tax liability of Rs 25.78 crore against RBC in connection with certain overseas transactions, including payments linked to the Argentina Football Association, Onmanorama reported.
Reporter TV, however, has alleged that the raid went beyond the scope of investigating financial transactions and amounted to an attempt to intimidate the newsroom.
Its statement said, “The case relates to the proposed Messi / Argentina football event, a matter that is sub-judice and where we have been fully cooperating with all statutory authorities, including tax authorities. To use this as a pretext to raid a newsroom at 5 AM, to enter the editorial floor, to physically remove a News Editor from his chair and seize journalists’ tools of trade, is reminiscent of Emergency-era tactics. This has never happened in the history of Kerala,” Anto Augustine’s statement says.
“Reporter TV will not be cowed down. We will continue to report, to question, and to stand with the people. No amount of intimidation will stop us from doing our duty as the Fourth Pillar of democracy,” it continues.
The police version has been backed by the state government, with Chief Minister V D Satheesan defending the searches as part of a legitimate investigation.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader and CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the action, calling it “aggression reminiscent of the Emergency era” and a “despicable assault on press freedom”, and demanded answers from the chief minister and home minister, The Indian Express reported.
The raid has therefore opened a second front in the Messi-event investigation, shifting attention from the alleged financial irregularities to the conduct and scope of the police search inside a functioning newsroom.
The search was part of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged financial irregularities linked to the proposed Lionel Messi-Argentina football event in Kerala, South First reported.
The SIT conducted coordinated searches at five locations, including the Reporter Broadcasting Company (RBC) office in Kalamassery and the Kochi and Wayanad residences of the Augustine brothers, who head the media group. The searches followed the registration of an FIR at Kalamassery police station, with RBC and Anto Augustine named as accused in the case. The investigation concerns alleged cheating, conspiracy and financial irregularities surrounding arrangements for bringing Messi and the Argentina national team to Kerala, Onmanorama reported.
The action at the Reporter TV newsroom began in the early hours and, according to the media organisation, lasted around one-and-a-half hours. Anto Augustine subsequently described the police action as a “despicable assault on press freedom”. The statement issued by him alleged that although the police claimed to possess a warrant for the administrative block, officers entered the newsroom and seized personal mobile phones belonging to journalists on duty.
Reporter TV also said the police presence disrupted its live broadcast during the search. According to the channel, the operation began around 5 am and continued for about 1.5 hours.
The police have disputed the account. ADGP P. Vijayan said the SIT had obtained a search warrant from a magistrate after conducting a preliminary inquiry into the allegations.
“After the SIT was formed, we had ordered a preliminary probe. We had collected the reports from the sports department and collected necessary statements. As we prima facie believe there is a cognizable offence in the matter, an FIR was registered and a search warrant secured from the magistrate’s court. Anto Augustine is the first accused and RBC is the second accused. We have not disrupted the news telecast. We have not seized the mobile phones of any journalists as alleged. We have also videographed the entire process,” ADGP P. Vijayan said, according to The Indian Express.
The police have said the searches were conducted under a court order and formed part of the investigation into the failed Messi-Argentina event. The SIT has also flagged an alleged tax liability of Rs 25.78 crore against RBC in connection with certain overseas transactions, including payments linked to the Argentina Football Association, Onmanorama reported.
Reporter TV, however, has alleged that the raid went beyond the scope of investigating financial transactions and amounted to an attempt to intimidate the newsroom.
Its statement said, “The case relates to the proposed Messi / Argentina football event, a matter that is sub-judice and where we have been fully cooperating with all statutory authorities, including tax authorities. To use this as a pretext to raid a newsroom at 5 AM, to enter the editorial floor, to physically remove a News Editor from his chair and seize journalists’ tools of trade, is reminiscent of Emergency-era tactics. This has never happened in the history of Kerala,” Anto Augustine’s statement says.
“Reporter TV will not be cowed down. We will continue to report, to question, and to stand with the people. No amount of intimidation will stop us from doing our duty as the Fourth Pillar of democracy,” it continues.
The police version has been backed by the state government, with Chief Minister V D Satheesan defending the searches as part of a legitimate investigation.
Meanwhile, Opposition leader and CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the action, calling it “aggression reminiscent of the Emergency era” and a “despicable assault on press freedom”, and demanded answers from the chief minister and home minister, The Indian Express reported.
The raid has therefore opened a second front in the Messi-event investigation, shifting attention from the alleged financial irregularities to the conduct and scope of the police search inside a functioning newsroom.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment