Palaniappan may refer to:
21715 Palaniappan, a main-belt asteroid B. Palaniappan (1930–2014), Indian gynaecologist K. L. Palaniappan, Malaysian businessman Karu Pazhaniappan, Indian film director Murugan Pal or Murugan Palaniappan (1966–2012), Indian entrepreneur P. Palaniappan, Indian politician, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu P. Chidambaram or Palaniappan Chidambaram (born 1945), Indian politician with the Indian National Congress and former Union Minister of Home Affairs S. M. Palaniappan (born 1930), former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu Palaniapan Meiyappan, Malaysian cricketer