The Supreme Court of India today dismissed a Special Leave Petition filed by Dr. Matthew A. Kuzhalnadan, Congress MLA from Muvattupura, challenging the Kerala High Court’s rejection of his criminal complaint against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter, and Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd. (CMRL). The MLA had alleged quid pro quo payments by CMRL to the CM’s daughter’s firm in exchange for official favours.
A Bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, with Justice K. Vinod Chandran, observed that political disputes should be resolved electorally, not through criminal proceedings. The Court declined to interfere, upholding the lower courts’ findings that no offence was made out.
Appearances:
For Petitioner: Mr. S. Gurukrishna Kumar, Sr. Adv.
For Respondent No. 2 (CMRL): Mr. Kapil Sibal, Sr. Adv.; Mr. Arshdeep S. Khurana, Adv.; Mr. Siddhartha Dave, Sr. Adv.; Mr. Sulakshan V.S., Adv.; Mr. Manohar Pratap, AOR.