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Politics Under a Criminal Cloud ? 4,192 Cases Pending Against MPs & MLAs
New Delhi : A startling picture of the alleged criminalisation of politics has emerged from a report submitted before the Supreme Court. The report reveals that a significant number of elected representatives across the country are facing criminal cases. From Parliament to state legislatures, and even among Chief Ministers, criminal cases are pending against several public representatives. The situation in Odisha is also noteworthy, with 16 out of 21 MPs facing criminal cases, according to the report. But what lies behind these cases ? Let’s take a closer look.
According to the report, 251 of the 543 Lok Sabha members have criminal cases registered against them, while 75 of the 233 Rajya Sabha members are facing such cases. Of the cases involving Lok Sabha MPs, 170 are classified as serious criminal cases, involving offences carrying a punishment of five years or more. Similarly, 40 serious criminal cases have been reported against Rajya Sabha members.
The affidavit was submitted before the Supreme Court by senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, who has been appointed as amicus curiae in a Public Interest Litigation seeking the speedy disposal of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs. The report states that a total of 4,192 criminal cases against current and former MPs and MLAs are currently pending across the country. While 1,243 cases were disposed of in 2025, another 1,050 new cases were registered this year so far. Despite the disposal of cases, the number of pending cases has reportedly remained largely unchanged since 2018.
Odisha’s figures have also drawn attention. According to the data, 16 of the state’s 21 MPs have criminal cases against them. Kerala has the highest proportion, with 19 of its 20 MPs facing criminal cases, followed by Telangana, where 14 of 17 MPs face such cases. In Jharkhand, 10 of 14 MPs, while in Tamil Nadu, 26 of 39 MPs, are facing criminal cases.
The report further states that criminal cases are pending against Chief Ministers in 14 of the 28 states. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy reportedly has the highest number, with 89 cases, followed by West Bengal Chief Minister Shuvendu Adhikari with 29 cases and Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar with 19 cases.
