Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan criticized Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) after former minister Antony Raju was convicted in a material evidence tampering case. Raju, who served as State Transport Minister from May 2021 to December 2024, was sentenced to three years in prison by the Nedumangad Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.
Satheesan highlighted that despite objections raised by the Opposition in the Assembly, Vijayan appointed Raju as a minister while fully aware of the criminal accusations against him. The case involved tampering with material evidence to aid a foreign national charged with smuggling narcotics, leading to serious allegations of conspiracy and evidence manipulation.
The Opposition leader emphasized that the government’s actions in retaining Raju as a minister for an extended period, despite objections, raise concerns about protecting accused individuals. Satheesan further accused the CPI(M) of shielding other accused persons involved in the Sabarimala gold smuggling case, alleging a pattern of shielding corruption and crime within the government.
Antony Raju’s conviction exceeding two years results in his disqualification from the Kerala Legislative Assembly and prohibits him from contesting future elections, as per Supreme Court rulings. Even if a higher court grants a stay on the sentence, the disqualification remains unless the conviction is overturned.
