The BJP has fielded maximum number of candidates with criminal back ground, which is about 18 per cent, while the Congress is competing closely with fielding 14 per cent candidates for the civic polls in the city. Maximum number of cases are lodged against BSP candidate Jai Singh from ward number 167, R.K. Puram, with five cases, including attempt to commit culpable homicide and abetment of suicide.
The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), in a report released on Tuesday, said it found 139 candidates with criminal back ground, including those facing serious charges like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery and extortion. The group came out with the report after analysing affidavits of 1,485 candidates out of the total 2,400 candidates in the fray for the April 15 municipal polls.
The ADR said it analysed affidavits of 211 BJP candidates and found that 39 of them — which is around 18 per cent — have declared pending criminal cases against them. The party has fielded candidates in 263 wards out of total 272 and left nine wards for Akali Dal.
The group added that it analysed affidavits of 207 Congress candidates and found that 28 of them (14 per cent) have criminal cases pending against them. The ADR also analysed affidavits of 214 BSP candidates and 77 Samajwadi Party candidates and found 19 and four of them having criminal cases against them.
“Out of these 139 candidates with declared criminal cases, 43 have declared serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion etc,” the report said.
The report said there are a total of 55 IPC charges of heinous nature on the candidates.
Compared to male and female candidates, on the basis of declared criminal cases, 14.3 per cent of male candidates (114 out of 799) have declared criminal cases whereas 3.6 per cent of women candidates (25 out of 686) have declared criminal cases, the report said.