A Special Investigation Team has already combed through five locations linked to Reporter Broadcasting Company, including its Kochi headquarters and the Augustine brothers’ homes, probing alleged GST fraud and the collapse of a high‑profile Lionel Messi–Argentina match.
Police entered Reporter TV’s newsroom at 5 am on Wednesday under a magistrate’s warrant, shutting down a live broadcast and displacing the news editor for 90 minutes.
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan described the raid as a “stain of the Emergency” and demanded that the Chief Minister and Home Minister provide a public explanation before the state’s residents.
CPI MP S. Sandosh Kumar stressed that while the Messi controversy must be addressed, the media should not be weaponised, and called for accountability of those responsible.
Parliament is set to ask the cabinet questions on Thursday, and the Chief Minister is expected to respond in a statement ahead of the session.