THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major loss of face for the ruling LDF just months ahead of the assembly election, its MLA from Thiruvananthapuram and former minister, Antony Raju, was on Saturday handed a three-year jail term for tampering with evidence in a 35-year-old drug seizure case.
In the wake of the ruling by the Nedumangad Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Raju stands disqualified as MLA and will be barred from contesting elections for six years after his prison term ends. However, the MLA, the second accused in the evidence tampering case registered by the vigilance, will not go behind bars immediately as the court granted him one-month bail to appeal the verdict.
Former court clerk Jose, the first accused, was also handed a three-year sentence under IPC 201 (disappearance of evidence), besides a fine of Rs 10,000. The duo was also sentenced to three years in jail under IPC Section 193 (furnishing false evidence), two years under Section 465 (forgery), and six months under IPC 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy). Jose was handed another one-year jail term and fined `5,000. All sentences will run concurrently.
The verdict comes 19 years after the chargesheet was filed against Raju, a legislator of Janathipathya Kerala Congress, an LDF ally. The case dates back to 1990 when Raju was a junior lawyer appearing in a drug case involving an Australian national, Andrew Salvatore. He is accused of tampering with Salvatore’s underwear, which was seized as material evidence.
FIR in 1994, chargesheet in 2006
Salvatore was caught with narcotics hidden in the pocket of his underwear at the Thiruvananthapuram airport in April 1990. The articles seized by the police and his personal belongings were handed over to the Thiruvannathapuram Judicial Magistrate Court. Salvatore later obtained a favourable verdict for release of his belongings. Court clerk Jose handed over the belongings including the underwear, which was a material exhibit in the case, to Raju, Salvatore’s counsel. The underwear was later returned to the court. Salvatore was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment but was acquitted by the High Court in 1991. This was after the underwear allegedly returned by Raju did not fit Salvatore.
In 1994, an FIR was registered following a vigilance probe against the court clerk and Raju, accusing them of having conspired to cause the disappearance of evidence. The FIR said Raju made alterations to ensure the underwear did not fit Salvatore. The chargesheet was filed against him in 2006. On appeal, the criminal proceedings against Raju were quashed by the HC on technical grounds. However, the Supreme Court overturned the verdict while allowing criminal proceedings against him.
Chain of events
1990: Andrew Salvatore caught with narcotics hidden in pocket of his underwear at T’Puram airport; Antony Raju appears as his junior counsel in court
1991: Salvatore acquitted by HC as underwear kept as evidence is found not of his size
1994: Vigilance case accuses Raju of disappearance of evidence
2006: Chargesheet filed against Raju, others for evidence tampering
2023: HC quashes criminal proceedings against accused
2024: SC restores criminal proceedings against Raju