Messi Event Row: Police Conduct Search at Reporter TV Office in Kochi
16 Sept 2026 10:50 AM IST16 Sept 2026 10:50 AM IST
The Assistant Commissioner of Police of Thrikkakara, who is leading the search, claimed that the channel was not cooperating with the process
A police team carried out a search at the Kochi headquarters of Malayalam news channel Reporter TV early Wednesday (Image credit: Video grab/Reporter TV)
Kochi: A police team carried out a search at the Kochi headquarters of Malayalam news channel Reporter TV early Wednesday, with the channel alleging that the action disrupted its news operations. The police personnel took away the mobile phones of journalists and other employees, the channel claimed.
The Assistant Commissioner of Police of Thrikkakara, who is leading the search, claimed that the channel was not cooperating with the process.
The officer told the media that the channel personnel present at the office did not accept the notice to search the administrative block nor did they agree with oral requests for the same.
He also said that a senior official of the channel assured she would reach the office soon, however, after some time, she stopped taking calls from the police.
The search was carried out at the news desk, where only journalists and technical staff normally work, according to the channel.
The channel alleged that officers remained at the office for over half an hour without explaining the reason for the search or other details and that phones personally used by journalists who had reported for duty were taken into custody.
The ACP said that the action was being taken in connection with the investigation into the alleged loss caused to the government due to the failed Messi-Argentina football event in Keralam during the previous Left rule.
He contended that the search was sought to be carried out based on a warrant issued by the court.
Later, the administrative official reached the office and opened the admin wing for the search, according to visuals shown on channels.
The Special Investigation Team is reportedly conducting searches at five locations, including the Kochi residences of the Augustine brothers, the proprietors of Reporter Broadcasting Company, its office and their family home in Wayanad.
The channel alleged that the search was intended to disrupt its broadcast.
Leader of opposition Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the police action and alleged that the entry into the news desk and seizure of journalists' phones amounted to an attack on media freedom.
In a statement, Vijayan said police personnel "burst into" the news desk in the early hours and created a tense atmosphere for about one-and-a-half hours. He also alleged that the police filmed journalists.
Vijayan compared the action to incidents involving media organisations in other states and Delhi and said Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala should respond to what he described as an attack on media freedom.
CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam and the party's legislative party leader K Rajan condemned the police action.
They said press freedom and freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution cannot be obstructed, and they extended their support to the channel and its reporters.
Viswam said that the CM should read the Constitution.
Rajan said that Satheesan should immediately intervene and indicate his stand on the development.
"This is administrative terror. If nothing is done, it will turn into a precedent. Disrupting the broadcast of a channel like this is unacceptable and unheard of."
Kerala DGP Ravada A Chandrasekhar said that "the raid was in accordance with law on the basis of a search warrant issued by the court".
"It was the decision of the SIT to carry out the search. I did not see any obstruction of channel broadcast as the telecast was going on," he told reporters.
CPI(M) MP John Brittas said nothing like this has happened in the history of Keralam.
"This is aimed at creating fear among the journalists. They should have entered the administration wing and not the news desk," he told a channel.
( Source : PTI )
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