44pc of sitting MPs face criminal charges, 5pc are billionaires: ADR

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New Delhi: Around 40 per cent of sitting Members of Parliament have criminal cases registered against them, according to their self-sworn affidavits, a report by poll rights body, Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), has revealed.

According to Kashmir Media Service, around 25 per cent have declared serious criminal cases, with charges of murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women slapped on them. While Kerala tops the list in terms of percentage of MPs with a criminal record, Bihar is at the top when it comes to serious crimes.

The average worth of assets per MP from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is Rs 38.33 crore, and 53 (7 per cent) are billionaires, the report says.

Furthermore, 28 sitting MPs have declared cases related to attempt to murder, with a majority—21 MPs—belonging to the BJP. Similarly, 16 sitting MPs face charges related to crimes against women, including three allegations of rape.

The report also sheds light on the financial aspects of these lawmakers. Among major parties, the BJP and the Congress have the highest number of billionaire MPs, though the analysis shows significant representation from other parties as well.

Regarding the distribution of criminal cases among states, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh stand out with more than 50 per cent of their MPs facing criminal charges. Additionally, the analysis unveils disparities in wealth among MPs, with some having assets worth hundreds of crores, while others have minimal assets. Notably, the top three MPs with the highest declared assets are Nakul Nath (Congress), DK Suresh (Congress), and Kanumuru Raghu Rama Krishna Raju (Independent), with assets amounting to hundreds of crores.

The report also highlights the educational background, age, and gender distribution among the sitting MPs. A significant majority—73 per cent—of the MPs have graduate or higher educational qualifications, while only 15 percent of the sitting MPs are women.