Kerala’s Elected Leaders Grapple with a Swarm of Criminal Cases

According to a fresh submission by the District Judiciary to the Kerala High Court, a staggering 555 criminal cases were pending against sitting or former Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) as of June 30, 2026. The numbers aren’t just big on paper – they span a bewildering mix of offences, from public‑order breaches to fraud, and even murder.

Out of the total, 260 cases were registered under the umbrella of offences against public tranquillity. That alone hints at how often political activity can spill over into legal trouble, whether by design or accident.

The most eye‑catching figure comes from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Former legislator and party heavyweight M. C. Kamaruddin tops the list, with roughly 120 cases pending against him. Most of these stem from the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019 – the BUDS Act – after he was named in the 2019 Fashion Gold Jewellery investment fraud. In fact, of the 163 BUDS‑related cases filed against Kerala’s representatives, Kamaruddin accounts for the lion’s share.

It’s not just financial crimes that dominate the docket. Five legislators are currently facing sexual‑harassment charges: Kovalam MLA M. Vincent, former Kazhakuttam MLA M. A. Vaheed, Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi, former Parassala MLA A. T. George, and Kunnathunadu MLA V. P. Sajeendran. Adding a darker shade to the picture, former Koothuparamba MLA P. Jayarajan and former Kalliassery MLA T. V. Rajesh have murder charges hanging over them.

Geographically, the burden of cases isn’t evenly spread. Thiruvananthapuram tops the list for the sheer number of pending cases, followed closely by Kasaragod and Kannur. Interestingly, the majority of BUDS Act cases were logged in Kannur and Kasaragod, while more than 130 cheating and fraud cases – many linked to the BUDS Act – surfaced across the state.

The report was handed over to the High Court as part of a suo‑motu petition, a move prompted by Supreme Court directions to keep a tighter watch on criminal proceedings involving elected officials. The data paints a worrying portrait of legal entanglements that could, in the long run, erode public trust in Kerala’s political class.