Kerala High Court Rejects Antony Raju’s Bid to Suspend Conviction

The decision leaves his disqualification under election law in force pending the court’s detailed order.

Overview

Justice C. Jayachandran on March 17 dismissed the former transport minister’s plea to suspend his conviction in an evidence-tampering case.
The ruling effectively affirms the Sessions Court’s approach of suspending only the execution of sentence while keeping the conviction operative during appeal.
Raju was convicted by the Judicial First Class Magistrate-I, Nedumangad, of conspiracy, causing disappearance of evidence, fabricating evidence, and forgery, with concurrent sentences of up to three years and a Rs 10,000 fine.
Prosecutors alleged he, as defence counsel for Australian national Andrew Salvatore in a 1990 NDPS case, conspired with a court clerk to tamper with material evidence.
After the conviction, the Kerala Legislative Assembly Secretariat notified his disqualification as an MLA, and he remains barred from contesting the upcoming Assembly polls as the detailed High Court order is awaited.