Nearly 70% of Kerala's 132 sitting MLAs have declared criminal cases against them, with over half qualifying as crorepatis, reveals a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Kerala Election Watch.
The analysis of MLAs' affidavits shows 92 legislators (70%) with pending cases, including 33 (25%) facing serious charges like murder and attempt to murder. Two MLAs have murder cases under IPC Section 302, three face attempt-to-murder charges under Section 307, and three others are linked to crimes against women, including one rape case.
Criminal cases cut across parties: 90% of Congress MLAs (19/21), 74% of CPI(M) MLAs (43/58), 86% of IUML MLAs, and 44% of CPI MLAs.
Financially, 72 MLAs (55%) declared assets over ₹1 crore, totaling ₹363.78 crore for all—with an average of ₹2.75 crore per MLA. All MLAs from Kerala Congress (M), JD(S), NCP, and Kerala Congress are crorepatis. IUML leads at 86%, followed by Congress (62%) and CPI(M) (40%).
Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan tops the list with over ₹34 crore, followed by Independent Mani C Kappen (₹27 crore+) and Kerala Congress (B)'s K B Ganesh Kumar (₹19 crore+). CPI(M)'s P P Sumod has the lowest at ₹9.9 lakh.
Demographically, 61% are graduates or above, 36% studied up to Class 12, only 8% (11) are women, and 70% are aged 51-80 (30% aged 25-50).
(Inputs from PTI)