New Delhi, Mar 19: Around 32 per cent of sitting Rajya Sabha members have declared criminal cases against themselves, while 14 per cent are billionaires, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
The findings are based on an analysis of affidavits filed by 229 out of 233 MPs, including 37 recently elected members. One seat from Jharkhand remains vacant, while affidavits of three MPs were not available for review.
Criminal Cases and Serious Charges
Out of the 229 MPs analysed, 73 have disclosed criminal cases, with 36 facing serious charges. The report notes that one MP has declared a murder case, four have cases of attempt to murder, and three are linked to offences against women.
Party-wise data shows that 27 out of 99 BJP MPs, 12 of 28 Congress MPs, and four each from TMC and AAP have reported criminal cases. Three MPs each from CPI(M) and BRS have also made similar disclosures.
Wealth Profile of MPs
The report highlights that 31 MPs have assets worth over ₹100 crore. The average wealth of a Rajya Sabha MP stands at ₹120.69 crore, reflecting significant financial disparities across parties.
Among major political groups, the average assets per MP are ₹28.29 crore for BJP, ₹128.61 crore for Congress, ₹17.70 crore for TMC, and ₹574.09 crore for AAP. Other parties such as YSRCP, SP, BJD, and DMK also show varying asset levels.
Top and Lowest Asset Holders
BRS MP Bandi Partha Saradhi tops the list with assets exceeding ₹5,300 crore, followed by AAP’s Rajinder Gupta and YSRCP’s Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy. On the lower end, AAP MP Sant Balbir Singh has declared assets of around ₹3 lakh, with others like Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba and TMC’s Prakash Chik Baraik also reporting minimal wealth.
The report underscores the diverse financial and legal profiles of lawmakers in the Upper House.