Kappan Cleared of Charges in 15-Year Cheating Case
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Synopsis
Mani C. Kappan, a two-time opposition legislator, has been acquitted by a court in Kochi in a longstanding cheating case. This ruling brings relief to Kappan, who had faced allegations for over a decade.
Key Takeaways
- Mani C. Kappan acquitted in a 15-year cheating case.
- Case filed by Dinesh Menon over a loan of Rs 2 crore.
- Kappan was previously a film producer and actor.
- He faced charges of criminal breach of trust.
- Political career includes a notable victory over Jose K. Mani.
Kochi, Feb 13 (NationPress) In a significant turn of events, two-time opposition legislator Mani C. Kappan was exonerated by a court here in a 15-year-old alleged cheating case on Thursday.
Before his political career, Kappan was known for his versatility as a film producer and actor in several Malayalam films.
The ruling was issued by a special court in Ernakulam, which handles criminal cases involving MPs and MLAs.
The allegations stemmed from a complaint by Dinesh Menon, who claimed Kappan borrowed Rs 2 crore in 2010 but only repaid Rs 25 lakh.
In 2013, an agreement was reached where Kappan committed to repay Rs 3.25 crore to Menon in installments.
Kappan allegedly issued post-dated cheques as part of this arrangement and used his property as collateral.
However, the cheques were dishonored, and it was discovered that the property had already been pledged as security to a bank.
Menon subsequently filed a complaint, leading to Kappan facing charges of criminal breach of trust and cheating.
On Thursday, Kappan was finally cleared of all charges, a case that had been used by his opponents during every election.
Kappan gained popularity while contesting against the formidable K.M. Mani, a veteran of the Kerala Congress (M) who represented the Pala Assembly constituency from its inception in 1967 until his death in 2019.
Despite two losses to Mani, Kappan achieved a notable victory as the NCP candidate in 2019 after Mani's passing. The NCP was a full-fledged ally of the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front.
However, the political landscape shifted when the KC(M), led by Mani’s son Jose K. Mani, transitioned to the Left Front from the Congress-led UDF.
Kappan refused to relinquish his seat to Jose, leading him to depart from the NCP and align with the Congress-led UDF. He ultimately defeated Jose in the 2021 Assembly elections.
