Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

15 pc Delhi candidates face charges; 33 pc crorepatis

Last updated on: April 02, 2014 20:19 IST

Out of the 150 candidates analysed in Delhi, where Lok Sabha elections will be held on April 10, 23 candidates (15 per cent) have charges against themselves.

A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms states that 13 candidates (9 per cent) have declared serious cases including cases related to kidnapping, criminal intimidation, extortion, etc.

Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mahesh Giri, who is contesting from the East Delhi constituency, has declared four serious IPC charges against him -- the highest in Delhi. He is followed by Sunil Chhikara, an independent candidate from North West Delhi constituency and Mahabal Mishra of the Congress from West Delhi Constituency, with 3 IPC counts each.

Five (71 per cent) out of the seven candidates fielded by the BJP, 2 (29 per cent) out of seven candidates from Congress, two (29 per cent) out of seven candidates of the Bahujan Samaj Party, two (67 per cent) out of three candidates of SHS, one out of (14 per cent) seven candidates of AAP, one candidate each from both Agar Jan Party and Rashtriya Ekta Party and nine (16 per cent) out of 58 Independent candidates have declared cases against themselves in their affidavits.

Four (57 per cent) out of the seven candidates fielded by BJP, two (29 per cent) out of 7 candidates of BSP, two (67 per cent) out of three candidates of SHS, one (14 per cent) out of the seven from the Congress and four (7 per cent) out of 58 independent candidates have declared serious cases against themselves in their affidavits.

One candidate, Mohammad Shakeel Saifi of BSP from East Delhi constituency, has declared a case related to assault to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty (IPC Section-354) and word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman (IPC Section-509), the report notes.

Two candidates have declared cases related to kidnapping.

Meanwhile, two constituencies have at least three candidates from political parties with declared cases.

Crorepati candidates:

Out of all 150 candidates analysed, 49 (33 per cent) are crorepatis, the report points out.

All 7 candidates of the Congress, 6 (86 per cent) out of 7 candidates in BJP, 6 (86 per cent) out of 7 candidates in AAP, 4 (80 per cent) out of 5 candidates in AITC and 3 (43 per cent) out of 7 candidates in BSP have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore.

The average assets per candidate contesting in the third phase of 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Delhi is Rs.3.09 crore.

Among major parties, the average assets for 7 Congress candidates is Rs 28.29 crore, 7 BJP candidates have average assets worth Rs.12.60 crore, 7 AAP candidates have average assets of Rs. 3.01 crore , 7 BSP candidates have average assets of Rs. 1.75 crore while 5 AITC candidates have average assets of?? Rs. 2.17 crore.

Eleven candidates have more than Rs. 10 crores worth of assets, the report suggests, while twenty candidates have not given value for at least one immovable asset declared in their affidavits.

Four candidates have declared that they have dues to government departments, the report notes.

A total of 50 candidates out of all 150 contesting candidates have declared liabilities. Manoj Tiwari of BJP from North East Delhi constituency has declared liabilities worth Rs. 3.46 crore followed by Parvesh Sahib Singh of BJP from West Delhi constituency with liabilities worth Rs. 2.66 crore and Ashutosh of AAP from Chandni Chowk constituency with liabilities worth Rs. 1.11 crore.

23 candidates have declared total annual income of over Rs. 10 lakh, the report notes.

Vicky Nanjappa