Police on Saturday pulled back Congress workers who tried to block MLA and former transport minister Antony Raja’s vehicle from the Nedumangad First Class Magistrate Court in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan on Saturday slammed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for giving ministerial berth to Antony Raju, ignoring opposition objections and knowing full well that he is accused in a serious case of evidence tampering and fabrication.
Speaking to the media in Kattappana after a Thiruvananthapuram court convicted Mr. Raja in the case, Mr. Satheesan accused the Chief Minister of giving political cover to Mr. Raju, allowing him to contest elections and later inducting him into his cabinet.
“The Chief Minister tried to protect the accused. A person accused of such a serious crime should never have been given an assembly seat let alone a ministerial berth. Protecting the accused in cases is what the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) are doing even now,” he said, accusing the CPI(M) of giving protection to the Sabalam gold accused.
Youth Congress activists protested outside the secretariat and demanded Mr. Raja’s resignation as MLA. Congress workers also tried to block Mr. Raja’s vehicle in Nedumangad, after which the police forcibly removed them to defuse tension.
Published – 03 Jan 2026 21:04 IST
