Wayanad, Sept. 18 -- A court in Sulthan Bathery on Friday denied bail to Anto Augustine, Managing Director and Managing Editor of Malayalam news channel Reporter TV, in an illegal alcohol possession case registered under the "Kerala Abkari Act".

Augustine was arrested from the Reporter TV studio complex in Kochi following raids conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Keralam Police at his offices and residences as part of a probe into alleged financial fraud linked to a failed football event featuring the Argentinian national team and Lionel Messi.

Judicial First Class Magistrate Adheena Biju at Sulthan Bathery dismissed Augustine's bail application after remanding him to 14 days of judicial custody late Thursday night. ...