The Thiruvananthapuram District and Sessions Court on Monday deferred punishment to former Thiruvananthapuram MLA Antony Raju in the tampering with evidence case.
Mr. Raju challenged the verdict of the Class I Magistrate of Nedumangad, who sentenced him to three years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹10,000. The verdict subsequently led to his disqualification as an MLA.
The former lawmaker and KS Jose, a court clerk, were both found guilty of causing the disappearance of evidence, forgery and fabricating false evidence that resulted in the acquittal of an Australian national who was arrested from the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in 1990 for possession of ganja.
In temporarily suspending the execution of the sentence pending the final disposal of the appeal, the District and Regional Court clarified that the decision of Mr. Raja’s guilt and his exclusion will continue to apply during this period. Detailed arguments in the case will be heard on February 6.
Mr. Raju, a former transport minister, approached the court to set aside the magistrate court’s verdict, saying the trial court had given its verdict without fully considering his arguments. He also claimed that the court in the preliminary investigation did not properly examine the fact that three other persons were initially accused of illegal conduct.
Published – 02 Feb 2026 19:50 IST