ED arrests Sanjay Raut: Criminalization of politics at an all time high

By: Yash Gupte

The recent arrest of Rajyasabha MP Sanjay Raut in a corruption case on the midnight of 1st August is the current talk of the town. As per the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Sanjay Raut was arrested in them 1000 crore Patra Chawl redevelopment project in Mumbai.

The recent arrest of Rajyasabha MP Sanjay Raut in a corruption case on the midnight of 1^st August is the current talk of the town. As per the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Sanjay Raut was arrested in them 1000 crore Patra Chawl redevelopment project in Mumbai. There were different reactions over the arrest of the Rajyasabha MP as the opposition criticized and protested against his arrest in the Parliament. Sanjay Raut’s arrest has once again raised a number of questions on the criminalization of politics and the world’s largest democracy. According to the section 27G of the People’s Representation Act, 1950, a person who is a member of an electoral college shall cease to be such member of the electoral college upon becoming subject to any disqualification for membership in Parliament under the provisions of any law relating to corrupt and illegal practices and other offences in connection with elections to Parliament. In spite of such provisions in the legal system, the number of MPs in the parliament facing criminal charges has not gone down but only shot up. Criminalization of Politics is very serious in nature and poses an enormous threat to a democracy like India.

The chart below shows the top 15 MPs with the highest number of criminal charges in the 17^th Loksabha. 

Source: Mynetainfo.in, Association for Democratic Reforms

From the chart above, it is understood that among the top 15 MPs with maximum number of criminal charges, BJP is the party whose MPs have a record of maximum criminal cases against them. The INC is on the second position with its 3 MPs among the top 15. Dean Kurikose, MP from Idukki, Kerala has the highest number of criminal cases (204) filed against him. Also, the number of MPs facing criminal charges has gone up over the years. In the 2009 General elections, 158 (30%) MPs had criminal cases filed against them. This number went up to 186 (34%) in the 2014 General elections and in the latest i.e. 2019 General elections, the number of MPs facing criminal cases stood at 235 (43%). This data clearly indicates that the criminalization of Politics in India is on a constant rise and the number of MPs charged with criminal cases has gone up over the years. Muscle Power and Money power are opposite sides of the same coin. In the 17^th Loksabha, around 82% MPs are crorepatis.

The chart below shows the top 15 current Rajyasabha MPs with the highest number of criminal charges.

Source: Mynetainfo.in, Association for Democratic Reforms. 

In the Rajyasabha too, among the top 15 MPs with highest number of criminal charges against them, BJP has topped the list with 3 MPs and the YSRCP and the INC are on a equal foot with 2 MPs. The Rajyasabha MP with highest number of criminal charges against him is A.A. Rahim of CPI (M). Around 43% of the current Rajyasabha MPs have criminal cases filed against them. This shows the extent of criminalization of the Indian Politics.