Overview
- A Nedumangad Judicial First Class Magistrate convicted Raju and court clerk K. S. Jose, sentenced both to three years, and granted bail with one month to approach higher courts.
- The court found offences including criminal conspiracy, causing disappearance of evidence, fabricating false evidence, forgery and common intention, with Jose additionally punished under criminal breach of trust.
- The case stems from a 1990 seizure from Australian national Andrew Salvatore Cervelli, whose High Court acquittal followed a test showing the underwear did not fit, with forensics later indicating it was cut and re-stitched.
- Proceedings were revived after the Supreme Court in 2024 set aside a Kerala High Court order that had quashed the case, paving the way for the trial and verdict.
- Opposition parties protested and demanded Raju’s resignation, as Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of having given Raju political cover by elevating him to minister.