Several criminal cases pending against MPs and MLAs of Andhra and Telangana

A number of politicians across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are facing criminal trials in cases such as crime against women, attempt to murder, kidnap and election-related violations.

Several MPs and MLAs are undertrials in as many as 118 cases, according to the data provided by a report filed before the Supreme Court. At least 107 sitting and former legislators in Telangana have criminal cases pending against them.

Three TRS legislators, B. Shankar Nayak, T. Harish Rao and Kancharla Bhupal Reddy are facing cases under the charges of crimes against women. Of the 17 Lok Sabha MPs from Telangana, TRS parliamentarian from Khammam, Nama Nageswara Rao, is accused of outraging the modesty of women. All these cases are pending before the Special Court at Hyderabad. The court has granted a stay in four cases.

106 criminal cases are pending from Vijayawada before the Special Court. In 85 cases, six sitting MPs, 79 sitting MLAs, 7 former MPs, 53 former MLAs and 53 former MLAs are accused. Most of the cases have been registered under section 188 of IPC which is punishable with imprisonment for up to two years.

The data was submitted to the Supreme Court by Amicus Curiae Vijay Hansaria and Advocate Sneha Kalita.

The advocates were acting on a direction by the Supreme Court in the PIL filed by Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking speedy disposal of criminal cases against both former MPs and MLAs. The advocates have asked the Supreme Court of India to dispose of the cases in a fast track manner or these people will influence the victims.

The top court, hearing pleas to consider the issue of speedy disposal of criminal cases against elected representatives to Parliament and state legislatures, including former MPs and MLAs, had directed Registrar Generals of all the High Courts to furnish information regarding pending cases against lawmakers.

The Supreme court is also very serious in this matter. The concerned High Courts need to have a look into these cases once every three months and the courts need to record the reasons if the hearing is postponed.