65 Odisha MLAs Have Criminal Cases Against Them: ADR report

Bhubaneswar: At least 65 sitting MLAs in Odisha have criminal charges against them, according to an analysis done by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The ADR, in association with the Odisha Election Watch, analysed the affidavits submitted by all legislators while filing their nominations for the 2019 Assembly elections and subsequent bye-elections in the state before releasing the report.

It said altogether 65 MLAs (45 per cent)  have declared criminal cases against themselves. Out of the 65, at least 47 legislators (32 per cent) have declared serious criminal charges against them, it said.

Notably, Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are slated to be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases.

The report, released on Wednesday, analyses 146 members of the 147-member Assembly as Digapahandi seat is now vacant.

It includes analysis of the affidavits submitted by the candidates before the 2019 Assembly elections and bypolls conducted thereafter.

It is seen that out of 146 MLAs, whose affidavits were analysed by ADR, 65 sitting MLAs (45%) of the total MLAs in the state, had declared criminal cases against themselves while 47 sitting MLAs (32%) have declared serious criminal cases, a statement released by ADR said.

Of the MLAs with serious criminal cases, two sitting MLAs have declared cases related to murder (IPC section 302) and 11 have declared attempt to murder (IPC section 307) cases against them, the report said.

At least 12 MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women against them, claimed the report.

A total of 44 BJD MLAs (40 per cent) of the total 111 in Odisha have criminal cases against them. Similarly, 13 BJP MLAs (59 per cent) of the total 22 in the state have declared criminal cases against them. Altogether five Congress MLAs of the total nine have criminal cases registered against them, it added.

The report said that as many as 31 BJD MLAs (28 per cent) of the total 111, nine BJP MLAs (41 per cent) of the total 22 and four Congress MLAs of the total nine have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.