Anto Augustine's Mother-in-Law Seeks Anticipatory Bail in Wayanad Liquor Case

Jose has sought protection from arrest ahead of questioning by the Excise Department. The court is scheduled to hear her plea on October 7.

The development comes after Excise officials visited Jose's residence in Koliyadi, Sulthan Bathery, to serve her a notice requiring her to appear for questioning. Officials found the house locked and have so far been unable to locate her.

The liquor was recovered during a search of the Vazhavatta property by a special investigation team probing an alleged fraud linked to claims of bringing Argentine football star Lionel Messi to Kerala.

According to the Excise Department, investigators recovered around 67 litres of liquor and wine from the premises. The seized stock reportedly included more than 43 litres of foreign-made liquor, around 4.8 litres of foreign-made wine, 5.5 litres of Kerala-made liquor and 860 ml of military liquor.

An Abkari case was subsequently registered under Sections 55(i), 55(a) and 58 of the Abkari Act. Anto Augustine was arrested in the case and remanded for four days before being released on bail.

Augustine has maintained before the Sulthan Bathery Magistrate's Court and the Kerala High Court that he is not the owner of the house. His lawyers have claimed that the property had been attached by the State Bank of India in 2022 and was subsequently purchased by Lilly Jose for Rs 2.10 crore.

Following the ownership claim, the Excise Department expanded its investigation to include Jose. The prosecution, however, has challenged the defence's contention regarding the property's ownership.

The prosecution told the court that the defence had produced a certificate concerning Jose's alleged purchase of the property but had not submitted a registered sale deed establishing the transfer of ownership.

It also pointed to revenue records that identified Augustine as the property's owner. According to the prosecution, a building tax receipt dated March 18, 2026, showed a payment of Rs 8,068 made in Augustine's name to the Muttal Panchayat.

A certificate issued by the panchayat secretary on September 17, the day Augustine was arrested, also reportedly listed him as the owner of the property.

Investigators have further collected digital material relating to celebrations and gatherings allegedly attended by Augustine and his relatives at the house.

The Excise Department is seeking to question Jose as part of its efforts to establish who owned and controlled the property where the liquor was recovered.