Judicial Report Exposes Fraud and Felony Charges Against Kerala Politicians
Data submitted to the Kerala High Court reveals 555 pending criminal cases against current and former lawmakers. The findings highlight significant volumes of financial fraud and public order offenses within the state's political class.
Scale of Litigation Against Kerala Lawmakers
A recent judicial inventory submitted to the Kerala High Court indicates that 555 criminal cases involving sitting or former MPs and MLAs remained active as of June 30, 2026. The report, generated via a suo motu petition following Supreme Court mandates, identifies public order violations as the most frequent charge. Specifically, 260 cases involve offenses against public tranquillity, largely stemming from political demonstrations, marches, and organizational protests.
Financial Fraud and the BUDS Act
Financial misconduct occupies a substantial portion of the legal docket, with 130 cases designated as cheating or fraud. A significant subset of these charges involves the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes (BUDS) Act, 2019. Former legislator M.C. Kamaruddin of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leads the state in total litigation, facing approximately 120 cases. Most of these stem from the 2019 Fashion Gold Jewellery investment scandal, which accounts for the majority of the 163 total BUDS Act proceedings recorded against political representatives. These financial offenses are concentrated primarily in the Kannur and Kasaragod districts.
Severe Felonies and Sexual Harassment Allegations
The report details grave criminal allegations beyond financial and public order crimes. Five individuals are currently facing sexual harassment charges:
- M. Vincent (Kovalam MLA)
- Suresh Gopi (Thrissur MP)
- V.P. Sajeendran (Kunnathunadu MLA)
- M.A. Vaheed (former Kazhakuttam MLA)
- A.T. George (former Parassala MLA)
Furthermore, former Koothuparamba MLA P. Jayarajan and former Kalliassery MLA T.V. Rajesh face pending murder charges. Geographically, Thiruvananthapuram holds the highest litigation density with 180 cases, followed by Kasaragod with 133 and Kannur with 50 cases.
Administrative Oversight and Police Scrutiny
The District Judiciary has transmitted these findings to the Kerala High Court, which has since shared the comprehensive data with the State Police Chief. To ensure accountability, the Assistant Inspector General of Police must now cross-reference this judicial data and submit an exhaustive review. The court has directed law enforcement to remain vigilant in tracking and reporting all developments regarding these high-profile criminal dockets.
Source: The Hindu — National
