Kerala HC refuses to suspend conviction of former Minister Antony Raju in evidence-tampering case

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday refused to suspend the recent conviction of former Minister Antony Raju in the evidence-tampering case. 

The court dismissed his plea that sought a stay on his conviction by a trial court, for a case in which he had been charged with tampering evidence that had been kept in court custody, in order to benefit an Australian national who was arrested for allegedly possessing drugs.

As per an affidavit filed by the police, Mr. Raju, while serving as a defense lawyer in 1990, conspired with a court staff to tamper with a material object (an underwear worn by a foreign national who was held for a narcotics case) that was kept in the custody of the trial court. A case in this regard was registered in 1994. He was subsequently convicted by a magistrate court in Nedumangad for serious offences including criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and also fabrication of evidence. He was also awarded three years imprisonment. Mr Raju approached the HC after a sessions court declined to suspend his conviction. 

Opposing his plea, the prosecution contended before the HC that suspension of conviction was to be granted only in exceptional circumstances.