77 new MLAs declared criminal cases in affidavit

NEW DELHI — As many as 77 newly elected MLAs in Karnataka have declared criminal cases against them, with 54 declaring cases of serious crime, said a report prepared by the Karnataka Election Watch and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

“Out of the 221 MLAs (whose poll affidavits were) analysed, 77 (35 per cent) have declared criminal cases against them. Out of 218 MLAs analysed during Assembly elections in 2013, 74 (34 per cent) had declared criminal cases against them,” the report added.

“The 54 (24 per cent) MLAs who declared serious criminal cases had cases related to attempt to murder and kidnapping against them. The 2013 figure was 39 (17 per cent) MLAs.”

Four MLAs declared cases related to attempt to murder.

Partywise, 42 (41 per cent) of the 103 MLAs from the Bharatiya Janata Party, 23 (30 per cent) of 78 Congress MLAs and 11 (30 per cent) of 37 Janata Dal-Secular MLAs declared criminal cases against them in their affidavits.

In the serious criminal cases category, the numbers were 29 (28 per cent) BJP MLAs, 17 (22 per cent) Congress MLAs and eight (22 per cent) JD-S MLAs.

Out of the 221 newly elected MLAs, 215 (97 per cent) are crorepatis. The number was 203 (93 per cent) in 2013.

“One BJP MLA, 11 Congress legislators, and three JD-S MLAs and one from Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party declared assets of more than Rs 100 crore.” The average assets per MLA came to Rs34.59 crore.

Congress MLA from Hosakote (Bengaluru) N. Nagaraju declared the highest assets of over Rs 1,015 crore. BJP MLA from Krishnaraja (Mysuru) S.A. Ramadas declared the lowest assets pegged at Rs 39 lakh.

As many as 80 MLAs (36 per cent) had declared Class 5 to 12 passouts while 135 (61 per cent) declared academic qualifications of graduation or above.