Kerala HC Issues Notice to Election Commission, Mani C Kappan Over Disqualification Plea

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has issued notices to the Election Commission and Pala MLA Mani C Kappan on a petition seeking his disqualification following his conviction in a cheque case and demanding a by-election in the constituency. The order was issued by a single bench of the High Court.

The court also directed the Speaker's office and the Chief Secretary to file their responses within a week.

A magistrate's court in Borivali, Maharashtra, had sentenced Mani C Kappan to three and a half years in prison and imposed a fine of ₹5.30 crore in four cheque cases. Following the verdict, Malayali businessman Dinesh Menon, the complainant in the case, approached the High Court seeking Kappan's disqualification as MLA.

Menon had earlier submitted a complaint to the Speaker by email after the conviction was pronounced. The petition alleged that no action was taken on the complaint.

The case relates to allegations that Kappan took ₹3.5 crore from Menon after promising to provide him shares in the Kannur International Airport company and subsequently cheated him by issuing a dishonoured cheque when the dispute arose.