Evidence tampering case: court rejects plea by Antony Raju

The Thiruvananthapuram District and Sessions Court on Tuesday rejected a plea filed by former Thiruvananthapuram MLA Antony Raju to quash his conviction in the evidence tampering case.

Principal District and Sessions Judge Nazeera S. dismissed the application moved in his appeal against the conviction. The outcome would prevent Mr. Raju from contesting in the upcoming Assembly elections. He is likely to move the Kerala High Court next seeking relief in the case.

The court had suspended his sentence two weeks ago. Mr. Raju and K.S. Jose, a court clerk, were convicted by the Judicial First Class Magistrate -I Nedumangad, in a narcotics case that involved an Australian national, who was arrested from the Thiruvananthapuram international airport in 1990 with possession of ganja. The duo were both found guilty for causing the disappearance of evidence, forgery and fabricating false evidence.