24 % Rajya Sabha MPs face criminal charges: ADR report

According to a report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch, 24 percent (54) of the Rajya Sabha (RS) MPs have criminal cases against them. An analysis of the criminal backgrounds and assets of the 229 MPs shows that 89 percent (203) of them have assets of crores. The report is titled ‘Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and other details of Sitting Rajya Sabha MPs 2020.’

A total of 54 Rajya MPs declared the criminal cases against them. From these 54, 28 face serious charges against them. These include murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and rape. Some others have cases like criminal conspiracy, punishment for rioting, armed with deadly weapons, fabricating false evidence, attempt to culpable homicide, and much more.

A BJP MP Bhosle Shrimant from Maharashtra faces murder charges under IPC Section 302. Four MPs face attempt to murder charges. KC Venugopal of INC from Rajasthan faces charges of rape under IPC Section 376.

As many as 18 percent (14 out of 77) MPs of BJP from RS face criminal charges. 15 percent (6 out of 40) from INC, 50 percent (3 of 6) from YSRCP, and 60 percent (3 of 5) from RJD are among those who have criminal cases against them among others.

While 6 percent (5 of 77) MPs of BJP face criminal charges, INC has a share of 15 percent (6 of 40). A state-wise analysis shows that Delhi has the highest percentage share of MPs with criminal cases (67 percent). It is followed by Bihar (53 percent) and then Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal with 13 percent.

Uttar Pradesh has the largest number of MPs with criminal cases with 30 MPs. Maharashtra follows with 19 and Tamil Nadu with 18.

The asset analysis shows 203 of these 229 MPs have assets in crores. 86 (37 percent) of them have assets of Rs. 10 crores and above, 36 (16 percent) have assets of Rs. 5 crores and above, and 81 (35 percent) have assets of worth Rs. 1 crore and above. Only 10 percent of the MPs have assets of worth Rs. 20 lakh to 1 crore. And only 2 percent have assets less than Rs. 20 lakh.

Mahendra Prasad from JD (U) Bihar tops the list of assets with Rs. 4078 crore. He is followed by Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy from YSRCP Anhdhra Pradesh with Rs. 2577 crore and actor turned politician Jaya Bachchan from SP Uttar Pradesh with assets worth of Rs. 1001 crore. The average assets of Rajya Sabha MPs is Rs. 62.67 crore.

Written By Rashi, She is doing her Masters in Convergent Journalism from Jamia AJK MCRC, New Delhi.

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