A staggering 47% of India’s ministers face criminal charges, including grave offenses like murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women, according to a September 4, 2025, report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The analysis, based on self-sworn affidavits from 643 ministers across 27 state assemblies, three Union Territories, and the Union Council of Ministers, reveals a troubling prevalence of criminal cases among the nation’s leadership, raising concerns about the integrity of governance.
The ADR findings, released days after the Centre proposed bills to remove ministers arrested for 30 days on serious charges, show that 302 ministers have declared criminal cases, with 174 facing serious allegations. Party-wise, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) tops the list, with 96% of its 23 ministers (22) declaring criminal cases, 57% involving serious charges. The DMK follows with 87% of its 31 ministers (27) facing charges, 45% serious. Congress reports 74% of its 61 ministers (45) with criminal cases, while 40% of BJP’s 336 ministers (136) and 33% of Trinamool Congress’s 40 ministers (13) face similar charges. At the national level, 40% of the 72 Union ministers (29) have declared criminal cases.
Among Chief Ministers, Telangana’s Revanth Reddy tops with 89 cases, followed by Tamil Nadu’s M.K. Stalin (47), Naidu (19), and Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah (13). The report underscores a troubling trend, with serious charges against 33% of chief ministers, coinciding with proposed laws targeting leaders with prolonged arrests. As India grapples with these revelations, the ADR’s findings spotlight the urgent need for political accountability and reform.
Financially, the report highlights stark disparities. The average assets of ministers stand at Rs 37.21 crore, totaling Rs 23,929 crore. Eleven assemblies, including Karnataka (8 billionaire ministers), Andhra Pradesh (6), and Maharashtra (4), feature billionaire ministers. TDP’s Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, with assets over Rs 5,705 crore, is the richest, followed by Karnataka’s D K Shivakumar (Rs 1,413 crore) and Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu (Rs 931 crore). Conversely, ministers like Sukla Charan Noatia (Rs 2 lakh) and Birbaha Hansda (Rs 3 lakh) reported modest wealth.
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The report, based on affidavits filed between 2020 and 2025, underscores the urgency of addressing criminalization in politics, especially as 11 assemblies, including Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, have over 60% of ministers with criminal cases, while Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, and Uttarakhand report none. As India grapples with these revelations, the ADR’s findings fuel calls for stronger accountability measures in governance.
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