The Kerala High Court has issued notice to Pala MLA Mani C. Kappan on a petition seeking his disqualification as an elected representative.

The petition was filed by Mumbai-based businessman Dinesh Menon, who is also the complainant in the four cheque bounce cases in which Mr. Kappan was convicted on September 1.

The Additional Metropolitan Magistrate, Borivali, Mumbai, sentenced Mr. Kappan to a total of three and a half years’ imprisonment, a fine of more than ₹3.25 crore, and additional imprisonment upon default of payment, in the cheque bounce cases.

Mr. Menon sought directions to the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly and to the Election Commission of India, for the former to declare the Pala Assembly seat vacant as of September 1 and the latter to initiate proceedings for a by-election for the constituency.

The matter will be considered again on September 22.