31 Rajya Sabha MPs billionaires, 73 face criminal cases: ADR analysis

NEW DELHI: An analysis of affidavits of 229 out of 233 Rajya Sabha MPs shows that 73 (32%) MPs have declared criminal cases against themselves and 31 (14%) are billionaires.

As many as 36 (16%) MPs have declared serious criminal cases. One MP has declared a case of murder, four have cases of attempt to murder, and three have cases related to crimes against women.

Party-wise data shows that 27 (27%) out of 99 MPs from BJP, 12 (43%) out of 28 from Congress, four (31%) out of 13 from Trinamool Congress, four (40%) out of 10 from Aam Aadmi Party, all three MPs from CPM, and the three MPs from Bharat Rashtra Samithi have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. This number is two out of eight MPs from DMK, two out of seven MPs from YSRCP, two out of five MPs from AIADMK, two out of four MPs from Samajwadi Party, and two out of three MPs from RJD.

In the report the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch have analysed and updated the criminal, financial and other background details of 229 out of 233 Rajya Sabha MPs. In the current Rajya Sabha, one seat from Jharkhand is vacant. Three MPs have not been analysed, as their affidavits were unavailable. The analysis includes 37 recently elected members.

In terms of financial background, out of the 229 sitting RS MPs analysed, 31 (14%) are billionaires. Among major parties, six BJP MPs, five Congress members, four MPs from YSRCP, two from AAP, two from BRS, and three from NCP have declared assets valued at more than Rs 100 crore.

While the total assets of 229 sitting MPs stand at Rs 27,638 crore, the average assets of Rajya Sabha sitting MPs is Rs 120.6 crore.

BRS MP Bandi Partha Saradhi, has declared the highest assets at over Rs 5,300 crore, followed by AAP's Rajinder Gupta with over Rs 5,053 crore, and YSRCP's Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy with over Rs 2,577 crore.

On the other end, AAP MP Sant Balbir Singh is the poorest, with assets worth about Rs 3 lakh. He is followed by Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, of Manipur, with around Rs 5 lakh, and TMC's Prakash Chik Baraik with around Rs 9 lakh.
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