‘Second marriage’ claim against Chief Minister VD Satheesan triggers Police case; Anto Augustine named first accused in FIR

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police have registered a case over allegations concerning Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan's alleged second marriage, naming Reporter TV Managing Director Anto Augustine as the first accused. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by KPCC spokesperson Raju P. Nair. The DGP had directed the police to take action on the complaint. According to the FIR, Anto Augustine and two others allegedly conspired in the matter and knowingly kept a forged document. The case also involves allegations of publicly defaming the Chief Minister.

The complaint followed remarks made by Anto at an event in Pathanamthitta a few days ago. He had said that two young men approached him with documents claiming to show that Satheesan's second marriage had been registered at the Byndoor Sub-Registrar Office in Karnataka. The two allegedly described it as a news story worth crores of rupees.

Anto Augustine said he decided not to publish the story after he was not convinced of the authenticity of the documents. The complaint, however, alleges that the forged documents were part of a conspiracy aimed at defaming Satheesan and destabilising the elected government.

Raju P. Nair's complaint sought an investigation into the alleged conspiracy and the identification of the two young men involved. It also sought the recovery of the documents reportedly in Anto Augustine's possession. The complaint further sought examination of CCTV footage from the Reporter TV office in connection with the alleged visit by the two men.

Anto had also told the media that he had no answer to questions regarding Satheesan's alleged second marriage.
"I will cooperate with every investigation into the Messi controversy. Otherwise, we have no answer to questions such as who leaks news to us, how we do the news, and who in the Congress supports you. If a fair investigation is being conducted, there is no need for this drama," Anto had said.