Kerala government spent Rs 245.62 crore on lawyers during 10 years of LDF rule
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: The Kerala government spent Rs 245.62 crore from the public exchequer on legal fees during the 10-year tenure of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, according to information provided under the Right to Information Act.
The Advocate General's office disclosed the figures in response to an RTI query filed by AS Mohammed Ashraf, hailing from Kasaragod.
The expenditure covers fees paid to senior lawyers who represented the government in cases before the Supreme Court, Kerala High Court, National Green Tribunal and Administrative Tribunal between 2016 and 2026.
The amount also includes payments made for legal advice, cases involving disputes between the governor and the state government, and assistance from lawyers in drafting amendments to laws.
Rs 38.91 crore spent on 789 Supreme Court cases
The government paid Rs 38.91 crore in legal fees for 789 cases before the Supreme Court.
Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta received the highest amount among the lawyers listed, with Rs 8.91 crore for appearing in 273 cases.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal was paid Rs 5.62 crore for appearing in five cases.
The government also paid Rs 92.65 lakh for legal advice from prominent lawyers, including former Attorney General KK Venugopal and senior advocate Fali S Nariman.
Fees paid in key cases
The legal expenses for several high-profile cases included:
- Solar case: Rs 1.20 crore
- Periya double murder case: Rs 85 lakh
- Gold smuggling case: Rs 70 lakh
- Wadakkanchery Life Mission scam: Rs 55 lakh
- Thiruvananthapuram airport privatisation case: Rs 56 lakh
- Harrison Malayalam case: Rs 45 lakh
- KIIFB case: Rs 45 lakh
- Santiago Martin lottery case: Rs 17.50 lakh
- Cheruvally estate case: Rs 16.5 lakh
- Sprinklr case: Rs 2 lakh