Conviction triggered automatic disqualification and election bar: The conviction led to automatic disqualification of Antony Raju as an MLA under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and a six-year bar on contesting elections.

Senior figures criticised prolonged delays in the case: Kamal Pasha called the episode a systemic failure and said an ordinary citizen would not have received such concessions, and T.P. Senkumar said the case should have been concluded two decades earlier.

Raju disputed the conviction and alleged political motives: Antony Raju maintained his innocence, called the case a political conspiracy, cited inquiries he said exonerated him, and prepared to appeal seeking suspension of sentence.