Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Petition Seeks Disqualification of Kerala MLA Mani C Kappan
A person named Dinesh Menon has asked the Kerala High Court to remove Mani C Kappan from the state Assembly.
Kappan is the elected MLA from Pala.
A Mumbai court found him guilty in four cheque-related cases.
The court gave him a combined prison sentence of three-and-a-half years.
The sentences were ordered to be served one after another.
Menon says this should make Kappan ineligible to remain an MLA.
He first sent his request to the Assembly Speaker.
The petition also asks that Kappan stop receiving MLA benefits while the case is being considered.
The High Court is expected to consider the petition next week.
Dinesh Menon filed a Kerala High Court petition seeking Mani C Kappan’s disqualification as Pala MLA.
A Mumbai court convicted Kappan in four cheque cases on September 1 and sentenced him to a total of three-and-a-half years.
The sentences were ordered to run consecutively, involving cheques totaling Rs 3.25 crore.
Menon said he submitted a disqualification representation to the Kerala Assembly Speaker on September 8.
The petition seeks that Kappan’s seat be declared vacant and a bye-election initiated.
- Who
- Dinesh Menon filed the petition against Mani C Kappan, with the Kerala Assembly Speaker, the state government, the Election Commission of India and Kappan named as respondents.
- What
- The petition seeks Kappan’s disqualification as Pala MLA, declaration of the seat as vacant, and a bye-election.
- When
- Kappan was convicted and sentenced on September 1; Menon submitted his representation on September 8, and the petition is expected to be considered next week.
- Where
- The petition was filed in the Kerala High Court, concerning the Pala Assembly constituency; the convictions were delivered by an Additional Metropolitan Magistrate in Borivali, Mumbai.
- Why
- Menon argues that Kappan’s conviction and consecutive sentences in four cheque cases require his disqualification.
- Petitioner
- Dinesh Menon
- MLA concerned
- Mani C Kappan, representing Pala
- Conviction date
- September 1
- Sentence
- Three-and-a-half years in total, with the sentences running consecutively
- Cheque amounts
- Rs 75 lakh, Rs 1 crore, Rs 1 crore and Rs 50 lakh
- Representation to Speaker
- Submitted on September 8; original documents and certified copies were handed over on September 9
- Next step
- The Kerala High Court is expected to consider the petition next week