T’puram: Actor Maniyanpilla Raju has been given a clean chit in the car accident case after scientific tests confirmed he was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. Following the findings, police said a report will be submitted before the court. However, questions have resurfaced over the delay in conducting the blood test, as samples were collected nearly 12 hours after the accident well beyond the usual detection window. The accident occurred around 10pm on Feb 5 when the actor’s car collided with a motorcycle upon exiting the Trivandrum Club. Two youths sustained serious injuries, including leg and spinal trauma, and underwent emergency surgeries. Controversy erupted after the actor allegedly failed to stop following the collision. There were also reports that his mobile phone was switched off in the hours after the incident. Raju informed police about eight hours later and appeared at the Museum police station around 10am the next day. The blood sample was collected only after that, raising concerns over its reliability as alcohol traces are typically detectable only within eight hours. Police sources said a report received last week confirmed there was no evidence of alcohol consumption. “The analysis did not detect any traces of alcohol in the blood sample,” a source said. Reacting to the development, Raju said he was relieved that the truth had emerged. He, however, admitted it was a mistake not to stop after the accident, stating that he acted out of fear.
