Bhubaneswar: As many as 18 (28%) of the candidates in fray in the six Parliamentary Constituencies of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Puri, and Sambalpur in Odisha that are going to polls on May 25 have declared criminal cases against them, according to an analysis of their self-sworn affidavits by Odisha Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Similarly, 13 (20%) of the candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
Besides, one candidate has declared cases related to murder (IPC Section -302) against himself, while four candidates have declared cases related to attempt to murder (IPC Section 307) against themselves.
Further, four candidates have declared cases related to crime against women.
The Criteria for serious criminal cases: 1. Offence for which maximum punishment is of 5 years or more. 2. If an offence is non-bailable. 3. If it is an electoral offence (for eg. IPC 171E or bribery) 4. Offence related to loss to exchequer 5. Offences that are assault, murder, kidnap, rape-related 6. Offences that are mentioned in the Representation of the People Act (Section 8). 7. Offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act 8. Crimes against women.
