Over 4,400 criminal cases pending against current, former MPs, MLAs

There are 4,442 criminal cases pending against current and former MPs and MLAs in special courts in the country, with 2,556 cases being faced by sitting parliamentarians and state legislators, senior advocate Vijay Hansaria and advocate Sneha Kalita told the Supreme Court.

Uttar Pradesh has the most number of such cases — 1,217. Of these, 446 are against sitting legislators.

The data was compiled by amicus curiae, senior advocate Vijay Hansaria and advocate Sneha Kalita, appointed by the Supreme Court while hearing a petition filed by Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay who sought criminal cases against sitting and former MPs/MLAs to be expedited.

The apex court had directed high courts to furnish details of such criminal cases.

The Supreme Court had also issued directions that the 12 special courts proposed by the Centre for such cases be set and the cases against sitting and former MLAs and MPs be transferred to these courts.

The SC had also asked the amicus curiae to recommend measures to speed up the trials.

“There are a total of 4,442 cases pending against MPs/ MLAs (sitting and former) in different courts, including special courts for MPs and MLAs. In 2,556 cases, sitting legislators are accused persons. There are 413 cases in respect of offences, which are punishable with imprisonment for life, out of which in 174 cases, sitting MPs/ MLAs are accused,” Hansaria told the court in his report.

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Hansaria said there are many cases pending in high courts for a very long time. Also, there are cases where non-bailable arrest warrants issued by the trial courts are yet to be executed.

In Uttar Pradesh, sitting legislators are accused in 35 heinous crimes punishable with a life term.

In Bihar, sitting legislators are involved in 30 such cases. Karnataka has 27 cases of heinous crimes filed against sitting MLAs.

A total of 330 cases are pending in Maharashtra, with 222 cases against sitting legislators.