Keralam SIT raids Reporter TV headquarters, owners’ homes in Messi event case

Reporter TV alleges police tried to disrupt live news broadcast after barging into newsroom, seized mobile phones of journalists

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Kerala Police is conducting searches at at least five properties linked to Reporter Broadcasting Corporation, including the Reporter TV office and the residences of its partners in connection with the case relating to the cancelled visit of football star Lionel Messi to Keralam and alleged financial irregularities.

The searches, according to PTI, are being conducted at locations including the Kochi residences of the Augustine brothers, proprietors of Reporter Broadcasting Company, its office, and their family home in Wayanad.

The police team, however, returned from the news channel's headquarters after an hour without conducting searches as the administrative wing was not open in the early hours. The raids are underway at the other properties.

Police are yet to disclose more on the raids.

Cops can't search newsroom, says channel

Reporter TV alleged that police personnel barged into its newsroom and tried to disrupt the broadcast of live news early on Wednesday (September 16) morning. Police had obtained a court order authorising the searches.