Pala MLA Mani C. Kappan sentenced to one year in jail in cheque case

The Additional Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Borivali, Mumbai, on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) sentenced Pala MLA Mani C. Kappan to one year’s imprisonment and directed him to pay ₹1.20 crore as compensation in an alleged cheque-bounce case related to shares in the Kannur International Airport.

The court directed Mr. Kappan to pay the compensation, along with simple interest of 9% from the date of the order until realisation, within one month. Failure to do so will invite an additional three months’ imprisonment. The case follows a complaint filed by Mumbai-based businessman Dinesh Menon.

“The accused Mani C. Kappan is hereby convicted for the offence punishable under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, vide Section 255(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The accused is sentenced to suffer simple imprisonment for a period of one year and he shall pay a compensation of ₹1.20 crore with simple interest of 9% from the date of this order till realisation of the entire amount towards compensation within a period of one month,” the order said.

The court further directed that the compensation be paid to the complainant, subject to any orders passed by the appellate court. It also directed the police to issue a non-bailable warrant against the legislator for execution of the sentence.

Mr. Kappan was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts to contact him. Sources close to the legislator said he would appeal against the verdict. They said Mr. Kappan maintained that the court had pronounced the judgment without hearing his side and that he had not appeared for the hearing.

Mr. Kappan, a United Democratic Front legislator, has also alleged that the case was aimed at preventing him from assuming a ministerial position that, he claimed, had been promised to him.