Former Minister Antony Raju appeals in evidence tampering case, seeks cancellation of prison sentence

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Antony Raju has sought cancellation of his prison sentence in the evidence case. The former minister has filed an appeal in the Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court. The court will consider the plea tomorrow. Antony Raju was sentenced to three years in prison. Antony Raju is the second accused in the case. Further proceedings will be taken after the appeal is considered.

Antony Raju, who was a Thiruvananthapuram MLA, was disqualified after being sentenced to imprisonment in the case. The maximum sentence in an evidence tampering case is up to 14 years in prison. However, only a maximum sentence of three years has been given. The prosecution's position is that this is not enough.

The court sentenced Antony Raju to six months in prison for conspiracy, three years in prison and a fine of Rs 10,000 for destroying evidence, and three years in prison for fabricating false evidence. The court sentenced him in a case of tampering with evidence underwear to help the accused escape punishment. The incident took place in 1990. The case alleges that Antony Raju tampered with an underwear to save a foreigner who was caught at the Thiruvananthapuram airport with drugs.