Wayanad, 16 September (H.S.): Excise officials have seized 50 litres of liquor from the Wayanad residence of Reporter TV Managing Director Anto Augustine during a search connected with the alleged Lionel Messi fraud case.

The seizure included 43 litres of foreign liquor and seven litres of wine. The search was conducted by a team led by Kalpetta Excise Circle Inspector Sharafudheen following information provided by the Special Investigation Team probing the case.

The SIT had arrived at Augustine's residence in Wayanad early in the morning to collect documents relating to financial transactions and other digital evidence allegedly linked to the Messi case. During the search, investigators reportedly noticed a large quantity of liquor stored in a room and alerted the Excise Department.

Under Kerala's liquor regulations, an individual may possess up to three litres of Indian-made foreign liquor and 3.5 litres of wine at home without special authorisation. The quantity recovered from the residence was several times higher than the permissible limit.

Excise officials are examining whether the seized bottles were imported directly from abroad or were Indian-made foreign liquor. They are also verifying the source of the liquor and whether the necessary documents and permits were available for its possession.

Officials said possessing liquor beyond the legally permitted quantity could attract action under the Kerala Abkari Act. A case is likely to be registered after the inspection and verification procedures are completed.

Investigators are seeking to ascertain where the liquor was procured, why such a large quantity was kept at the residence and whether it was intended for personal consumption or distribution.

The liquor seizure was not reportedly part of the original objective of the SIT search. It emerged unexpectedly while the police team was conducting searches for financial records and electronic evidence connected with the alleged fraud involving a promise to bring Argentine football legend Lionel Messi to Kerala.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman