Evidence tampering case; Antony Raju will be disqualified; won't be able to contest election, Legislative Assembly Secretariat notification soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Antony Raju, MLA, who was found guilty in the evidence tampering case, will lose his membership in the Legislative Assembly. As soon as a copy of the court order is received, a notification will be issued by the Legislative Assembly Secretariat disqualifying him. Antony Raju has been sentenced to three years in prison. He will not be able to contest any election for the next six years.

Antony Raju has been granted bail by the court. The court granted bail to the accused until the verdict in the appeal since the sentence is less than seven years. Within this time, the accused can get a stay on the verdict and inform the court. Otherwise, he will have to go to jail.

Antony Raju was sentenced to three years in prison by the Nedumangad Judicial First Class Court. The Supreme Court has ruled that anyone sentenced for more than two years by any court is disqualified. Antony Raju will lose his MLA position due to this. He will also not be able to contest the upcoming elections.

The verdict has now been delivered in a case related to an incident that took place 34 years ago. Antony Raju has been charged under crucial sections 409,120 B, 420, 201,193, 34, 217, and 465. The charge sheet was filed thirteen years after the incident. The final verdict in the Nedumangad court followed the Supreme Court's order that the trial should be completed within a year. Although there were 29 witnesses in the case, 19 were examined. Eight were acquitted on grounds of death and illness, and two were acquitted by the prosecution.

The case alleges that Antony Raju tampered with the underwear (evidence) to save Australian citizen Andrew Salvador Sarvali, who was arrested at the Thiruvananthapuram airport with 60 grams of hashish on April 4, 1990. Antony Raju, an advocate at the Vanchiyoor court in Thiruvananthapuram, took on Andrew's defense along with his senior, Adv. Celine Wilfred.