Evidence destroyed? CCTV footage deleted, DVR missing from Anto Augustine's house, says Excise

KALPETTA: The Excise Department has found that CCTV footage from the house of Reporter Channel MD Anto Augustine, who was arrested in an excise case, had been deleted. According to the Excise Department, footage from all 22 cameras installed at Anto's house in Vazhavatta, Wayanad, had been deleted. The DVR containing the footage was also found missing. The findings came to light when Excise officials took Anto Augustine to the house for evidence collection.

The officials suspect that the DVR was removed to destroy evidence. Anto Augustine's bail application will be considered by the court tomorrow, and the prosecution is likely to raise these points during the hearing. The Bathery court had granted the Excise Department 24 hours of custody of Anto Augustine, who was arrested for allegedly possessing liquor beyond the permitted quantity. The custody was granted for questioning and evidence collection.

During questioning, Anto reiterated that the house in Vazhavatta was not in his name and that he was unaware of the liquor kept there. He said his mother-in-law, Lilly, had purchased the house at an auction under the SARFAESI Act after it was seized by a bank. He also said that he does not consume alcohol and had no knowledge of the liquor seized from the house.

Meanwhile, a stop memo issued by the panchayat stating that the house in Vazhavatta was an unauthorised construction has also surfaced. A document has also emerged showing that Anto Augustine had given the Vazhavatta house as his address to the GST Department. The Excise Department said the house is listed in Anto's name in panchayat records and other documents, including the KSEB electricity connection records. According to the department, the SBI sale certificate alone is not sufficient to establish that ownership of the house had been transferred.