Anto Antony Admits Receiving Money From N M Raju During 2019 Polls, Claims Amount Was Repaid

Thiruvananthapuram: Member of Parliament Anto Antony has admitted to receiving money from N M Raju, the owner of a finance firm currently under investigation in connection with the Sabarimala gold thsft case. He said the funds were received during the 2019 Lok Sabha election and claimed he believed the money was provided as campaign assistance. He maintained that the amount was later returned in full and described the current allegations as part of a false campaign against him.

Speaking to the media, Anto Antony said he faced severe financial difficulties during the 2019 election campaign and was unsure whether he could continue. “At one point, I even thought the campaign had stopped. Raju helped me during that time. Many people helped me. A Congress candidate cannot survive an election without support,” he said, adding that he had received money from several individuals during the campaign. However, the MP declined to disclose the exact amount received from Raju.

According to him, N M Raju demanded the return of the money approximately two months after the election, following which the amount was repaid. “I have returned the entire amount that Raju gave me,” he asserted.

However, N M Raju has made contrary claims. Raju, whose finance firm is being probed in the Sabarimala gold theft case, alleged that Anto Antony received 2 crore rupees in the name of election campaigning. He stated that Anto Antony had promised to return the money within two months of receiving it in 2019 but failed to do so. According to Raju, only 20 lakh rupees has been returned so far, despite repeated requests.

Addressing a press conference, Raju claimed that the amount was returned in two instalments of 20 lakh rupees and alleged that the MP did not repay the remaining amount even when the finance firm faced a severe financial crisis. He further said that he had personally visited Anto Antony’s residence along with his daughter to request the repayment of the full amount, but the balance is yet to be returned. Raju maintained that the money was given based on his personal relationship with Anto Antony.