At least 302, or 47% of the total 652 ministers in the Union and state Cabinets, have been charged in criminal cases, according to a report by the non-governmental organisation Association for Democratic Reforms.

Released on Thursday, the report is based on an analysis of the self-sworn affidavits of 643 ministers in 27 state Assemblies, three Union Territories and the Union council of ministers.

It stated that of the total, 174, or 27% of the ministers, are facing serious criminal cases.

The poll watchdog classified serious criminal offences as those that have a maximum punishment of five years or more, are non-bailable, or related to loss to exchequer. Serious offences also include assault, murder, kidnap, rape related, or those mentioned in the Representation of the People Act. They also include offences under Prevention of Corruption Act and crimes against women.

A total of 29 Union ministers, or 40% of them, have declared criminal cases and 19, or 26%, were charged for serious crimes.

In 11 state Assemblies – Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Puducherry – more than 60% of ministers have declared criminal cases.

Andhra Pradesh and Odisha had the highest percentage of ministers facing criminal cases – each at 88% – while…

Read more

This article first appeared on Scroll.in