Over 860 serious charges pending against 194 MPs before polls

Source: The post is based on the article “Over 860 serious charges pending against 194 MPs before polls” published in “The Hindu” on 27th September 2023.

What is the News?

The Women’s Reservation Bill has been passed in both Houses of Parliament.

During the parliamentary debates before the passage of the Bill, several MPs voiced concern about the fact that many members have serious cases of crimes against women pending against them. 

In this context, let us look at the data on the criminal cases against MPs.

What does the data say on the criminal cases against MPs and MLAs?

MPs with criminal cases: According to the Association of Democratic Reforms’ analysis of 763 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, 306 had criminal cases (40%) and 194 (25%) had serious criminal cases pending against them when they filed their affidavits. 

– Serious criminal cases include non-bailable offences, murder, kidnapping, prevention of corruption, rape and other crimes against women. 

MPs with charges related to crimes against women: There are 21 MPs who had pending charges of involvement in crimes against women at the time of their election.

– TeOver 860 serious charges pending against 194 MPs before polls these MPs were from the BJP, five were from the Congress, three from the YSR Congress Party, and the rest from other parties.

MLAs with criminal cases: Of all the MLAs analyzed, about 28% of them have declared serious criminal cases against themselves, including charges related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women, among others.

MLAs with charges related to crimes against women: A total of 114 MLAs have declared cases pertaining to crimes against women, with 14 of them specifically declaring cases related to rape (IPC Section-376).