Legal Action Against Anto Augustine Over Fake Marriage Allegations Against CM V.D. Satheesan

The Kerala Police have registered an FIR against Anto Augustine, the owner of Reporter TV, following a controversy involving forged documents that alleged Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan entered into a second marriage. The legal action, initiated on September 16, 2026, centers on a public speech where Augustine discussed the existence of these documents, leading to accusations of a conspiracy to defame the Chief Minister.

The Core of the Allegations

The case began when Anto Augustine revealed during a public event that two unidentified youths had approached him with documents claiming that CM V.D. Satheesan had registered a second marriage on October 17, 2012, at the Byndoor Sub Registrar Office in Karnataka. According to the FIR, these individuals claimed the information was a "high-value news story" worth crores of rupees [1].

While Augustine stated that he decided not to publish the story as news because its authenticity could not be verified, the police allege that he knowingly retained the forged documents and used the public platform to spread the defamatory claim. The FIR suggests a conspiracy between Augustine and the two youths to humiliate the Chief Minister in the public eye [2].

Legal Proceedings and Investigation

The legal process was triggered by a complaint filed by Congress leader Raju P. Nair to the State Police Chief (DGP). Following the DGP's directions, the Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner ordered the registration of the case. Key details of the investigation include:

• Prime Accused: Anto Augustine (Owner of Reporter TV).
• Other Accused: Two unidentified youths who provided the forged documents.
• Jurisdiction: The case has been transferred to the Kalamassery Police for further investigation.
• Evidence Sought: The police are attempting to identify the youths through CCTV footage and recover the forged certificates and notices [1].

Reporter TV's Response

Reporter TV has maintained that they never published the allegations as a news report. The media house has also questioned the motives behind police raids conducted at their office, suggesting the actions may be targeted [3].

Summary of the Case Facts

Detail	Information
Alleged Date of Marriage	October 17, 2012
Alleged Location	Byndoor Sub Registrar Office, Karnataka
Nature of Documents	Marriage registration certificate and statutory notice (declared fake)
Primary Legal Charge	Conspiracy to defame and possession of forged documents