Kerala HC seeks responses on plea to disqualify Mani C Kappan

Kochi, Sep 14 (PTI) The Kerala High Court on Monday sought response of the state government, Assembly Speaker and the EC on a plea seeking a declaration that Pala MLA Mani C Kappan stands disqualified as a legislator following his conviction and sentence in cheque bounce cases by a Mumbai court.

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas issued notice to the state government, Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, the Election Commission of India (EC) and Kappan, belonging to the Kerala Democratic Party, seeking their stand on the plea.

The court listed the matter for further hearing on September 22.

Kappan was sentenced to a total of three-and-a-half years together in four cheque bounce cases by the Mumbai court on September 1, the petition filed by Maharashtra resident Dinesh Menon has claimed.

Menon has claimed that the sentences in the four cases, which together come to a total of three-and-a-half-years, are not running concurrently and therefore, the Pala MLA stands disqualified.

The petitioner has also said that he moved the Kerala HC as there was no action on his representation to the Speaker seeking disqualification of Kappan.