Law-makers being on the wrong side of the law is nothing new. But what is surprising is that in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, every third legislator has a criminal record.
Sample this: out of 119 MLAs in Telangana, 39 are facing charges and in Andhra Pradesh, 60 MLAs out of 175.
The party-wise details of the tainted legislators reads like this: TRS (22), Congress and Majlis (5 each), Telugu Desam (4) and BJP (3). And in respect of MPs, one each from TRS, BJP and Majlis are facing charges. A lone MLC belonging to the ruling TRS has cases against him.
In the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the ruling Telugu Desam takes the cake for having the largest number of 35 MLAs facing charges followed by YSRC (23), BJP and Independent one each.
In case of MPs, the Telugu Desam and YSRC have four members each involved.
This apart, two MLCs of Telugu Desam are facing charges.
This data, along with the number and nature of cases framed, is painstakingly collected by the Forum for Good Governance through RTI Act.
“The idea is not to sensationalise the issue but to ensure that the police and judiciary take steps for quick disposal of cases,” said the Forum president, Reddappa Reddy and secretary, M. Padmanabha Reddy.
The Supreme Court had clearly stated that cases pending in courts against public representatives should be disposed of within a year.
But in AP and Telangana, cases are pending for years, creating an impression that the ‘long arm of law’ can never reach them.
The Forum had not collected cases booked during the agitation since both the governments had withdrawn them.
Cases pending with the Railways and those booked by the CBI were also not included.
Only cases where police enquiry was over, charge sheets filed in court and CC number allotted were taken up for examination, the Forum members said.
Some cases are pending for want of permission from the government to prosecute the MLAs while in some there are court stay orders regarding investigation and arrest. Police should get the stay orders vacated and try for speedy disposal of cases, Mr. Reddy said.
Kodela on list
Interestingly, YSRC president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy who is facing a dozen cases of quid pro quo in CBI courts, doesn’t figure in the Forum list for Andhra Pradesh.
However, Speaker Kodela Sivaprasad Rao, has five cases.
Interestingly, YSRC president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, who is facing a dozen cases of quid pro quo in CBI courts, doesn’t figure in the Forum list for Andhra Pradesh
