Kerala’s Elected Officials Under the Gavel: A Flood of Criminal Cases

When the district judiciary handed a detailed list to the Kerala High Court, the numbers looked almost surreal: 555 criminal cases hanging over the heads of sitting or former MPs and MLAs as of June 30, 2026. It’s a stark reminder that political clout does not make one immune to the law.

What’s striking is the sheer variety of offences. A full‑blown 260 of those cases fall under the umbrella of "offences against public tranquillity" – a catch‑all that usually involves riots, unlawful assemblies or other disruptions that threaten peace.

Then there’s the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019 – better known as the BUDS Act. Out of 163 cases filed under this law, one name dominates the list: M.C. Kamaruddin, the veteran Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and former legislator. He alone is linked to roughly 120 pending BUDS‑related prosecutions, most of them stemming from the 2019 Fashion Gold Jewellery investment fraud.

Geographically, the trouble isn’t spread evenly. Thiruvananthapuram tops the chart with the highest concentration of cases, while the northern districts of Kasaragod and Kannur follow closely. Those two districts also account for the bulk of BUDS Act filings.

Beyond financial scams, the report flags serious personal misconduct. Five elected figures – 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 – are currently facing sexual‑harassment charges.

Even graver are the murder allegations that loom over former Koothuparamba MLA P. Jayarajan and ex‑Kalliassery MLA T.V. Rajesh. Both are awaiting trial for homicide offences.

The findings were submitted as part of a suo‑motu petition, an initiative spurred by Supreme Court directions to keep tabs on pending criminal matters involving legislators. While the data paints a grim picture, it also underscores the judiciary’s growing resolve to shine a light on political accountability.

In the end, the numbers speak for themselves: criminal allegations are not a rarity in Kerala’s political arena. Whether it’s fraud, harassment or even murder, the courts are now more diligently tracking each case, ensuring that no elected official enjoys blanket immunity.