Former Kerala Minister Antony Raju has been disqualified as a Member of the Legislative Assembly after being convicted for tampering with material evidence. The Nedumangad Judicial First Class Magistrate Court delivered the conviction on Saturday, resulting in Raju’s disqualification as an LDF MLA representing the Thiruvananthapuram constituency. The disqualification, based on the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Supreme Court rulings, has led to the Thiruvananthapuram Assembly seat becoming vacant since January 3, 2026.
Raju has been sentenced to three years in prison, marking a significant legal and political setback for him. Due to the sentence exceeding two years, the disqualification has taken immediate effect. Legal experts highlight that even if a higher court stays the sentence, the disqualification will persist unless the conviction itself is overturned. The court found Raju guilty of criminal conspiracy, evidence destruction, and false evidence fabrication, resulting in various imprisonment terms and fines.
The case revolves around allegations of tampering with material evidence, specifically a piece of underwear presented as ‘thondimuthal,’ to aid a foreign national accused in a narcotics case. Raju, the second accused in the case, was convicted alongside the first accused, Jose, a court employee, who also received a three-year prison sentence. Outside the court, tension escalated as a large crowd gathered, with angry UDF supporters protesting Raju’s actions, necessitating police intervention for his safe exit.
The legal saga traces back to 1990 when Australian national Andrew Salvatore Cervelli was apprehended at Thiruvananthapuram airport for smuggling contraband concealed in his underwear. Raju, then a budding lawyer, represented Cervelli during the trial. Despite Cervelli’s initial conviction, the Kerala High Court later acquitted him, citing discrepancies in the evidence. Years later, based on information from the Australian National Central Bureau, an investigation into evidence tampering ensued, culminating in Raju’s recent conviction.
