Former Kerala Minister Antony Raju :In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea filed by former Kerala minister Antony Raju, refusing to stay his conviction in the widely discussed 1990 evidence tampering case. The verdict comes as a major blow to Raju, who had sought relief from his sentence.
Court Refuses to Intervene
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma upheld the Kerala High Court’s earlier ruling. The court declined to grant any relief, making it clear that both the conviction and the sentence awarded by the trial court will continue to stand.
Political Fallout Already Visible
Following the conviction, Raju has already lost his membership in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. As the lone MLA from the Janadhipathya Kerala Congress, he now faces disqualification under legal provisions, further weakening his political standing.
The 1990 Case Explained
The case dates back to 1990, when an Australian national, Andrew Salvatore Cervelli, was arrested at Thiruvananthapuram airport on charges of drug trafficking. Authorities had alleged that narcotics were concealed in his undergarments.
However, during the trial, the court raised serious doubts about the evidence. The undergarment presented did not match the accused’s body size, leading to his acquittal. Subsequent investigations, including inputs from foreign agencies, pointed toward possible tampering with evidence.
Long Legal Journey
The case took a prolonged legal route. A formal case was registered in 1994, and a chargesheet was eventually filed in 2006. Over the years, the matter remained under judicial scrutiny before reaching its current stage.