The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : 47 candidates face criminal charges

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Wednesday, May 07, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

47 candidates face criminal charges

Staff Reporter

Cheating cases top the list among offences; manifold increase in aspirants’ assets

The facts are the results of a study conducted by Karnataka Election Watch Committee
Three candidates face murder charges, six face attempt to murder charges

Bangalore: In the first phase of elections to the State Assembly, you will be voting for 47 candidates having criminal records from seven political parties.

Among them, ten face cheating charges (under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code), three are facing murder charges (under Section 302) and six are facing attempt to murder charges (under Section 307).

Study

These facts were disclosed by a study conducted by the Karnataka Election Watch Committee, a non-political and non-partisan organisation comprising eminent citizens from various walks of life.

Declining number

Releasing the details of the study conducted, based on the affidavits filed by the candidates along with their nomination papers, Trilochan Sastry of the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore, said that there has been a slight decline in the number of candidates with criminal records contesting in this election when compared to the previous elections.

While Janata Dal (Secular) has the highest number of candidates with criminal records (13), the BJP has fielded 12 such candidates and the Congress 10.

While the Bahujan Samajwadi party (BSP) has fielded nine candidates having criminal records, the Samajwadi Party, the Janata Dal (U) and the Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha have fielded a candidate each having such records.

Cheating charges

Shivarudrappa B. (Belur-BJP), ES. EN. Krishnaiah Setty (Malur-BJP), Mehaboob Pasha (Chickballapur-BSP), K. Venkatesh (Jayanagar-BSP), D.C. Sannaswamy (Sakaleshpura-Cong), Amaresh (Mulbagal-Cong), G. Padmavathi (Rajajiagar-Cong), B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan (Chamarajpet-JD(S), R. Srinivasa Murthy (Pulakeshinagar –JD(S) and M. Bhaktavachalam (KGF-JD-S) are facing cheating charges.

Murder and attempt

K.R. Ramesh Kumar (Srinivaspura-Cong), B. Chandrappa (Yelahanka-Cong) and K. Gopalaiah (Mahalakshmi Layout- JD(S) are facing murder charges.

Ismail Sharief (Sarvagnanagar-BSP), Mehaboob Pasha (Chickballapur-BSP), Chinnaswamy (Kanakapura-BSP), S.R Mahesh (Krishnarajanagar-JD(S), K. Gopalaiah (Mahalakshmi Layout- JD(S) and Ashfaq Ahmed (Shivajinagar-JD(S) are facing attempt to murder charges.

Unlawful assembly, rioting, obstruction to official work are the common charges (normally registered during agitation, demonstrations, among others) faced by the majority of the 47 candidates having criminal records.

Thirteen candidates, including former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, former ministers H.D. Revanna, Katta Subramanya Naidu, H.K. Kumaraswamy, V. Somanna, who were facing criminal charges when they contested in the last elections, have no criminal cases against them at present.

Assets and liabilities

The study found that there are 14 candidates having declared assets over Rs. 30 crore, 63 candidates with assets between Rs. 5 crore and Rs. 30 crore.

Surprise

Interestingly, the assets of 33 candidates are below Rs. 1 lakh and five of them have no assets. G.M Yusuf (Hebbal), H.R. Nagendra (Holenarispura) and G.M. Gadkar (Chamarajnagar), all BSP candidates, and G. Muthyalappa (Pavagada) and C. Thammappa (Malur), both SP, have no asset.

Many candidates are either industrialists or engaged in real estate, liquor, mining and other businesses, and the conflict of interest that they create while making laws that are relevant to these businesses is a matter of serious concern, said Prof. Sastry.

Analysis

The analysis of assets of candidates of major political parties disclosed that 82 candidates had registered a steep increase in their assets from 2004 elections.

The average increase of assets of these candidates is 677 per cent. While the assets of the Janata Dal (S) candidates registered a growth of 1,292 per cent, those of the BJP and Congress candidates increased by 532 per cent and 561 per cent respectively.

Comparison

Interestingly, H.D. Revanna has double the assets of his brother Mr. Kumaraswamy. Mr. Revanna has assets worth about Rs. 103 crore. Mr. Kumaraswamy’s assets in comparison is Rs. 52 crore.

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