From fraud to assault, candidates in Vidarbha face many criminal charges

Nagpur: A clean politician is as much of an oxymoron as a highly qualified politician. The ball game is no different in Vidarbha where affidavits of around 30 candidates reveal that they have criminal offences registered against them.
While most of the aspiring MPs are facing trials in their cases, few have been disposed of from the charges. From serious offences like criminal assault, forgery to not-so-significant ones like unlawful assembly the leaders have been accused of all.

Among the ten constituencies of Vidarbha, Buldhana has the highest percentage of candidates with criminal charges. On the other hand, Ramtek and Gadchiroli-Chimur have no such candidates.

The accused also comprise prominent leaders like Union minister Nitin Gadkari who is the BJP candidate from Nagpur. The minister has been accused of fraud, defamation and other offences. Pramod Gajbhiye, an independent candidate from Bhandara-Gondia, was allegedly involved in criminal assault.

Former South Indian film actress Navneet Rana, who is contesting from Amravati, has been charged with dishonesty and forgery using fraud documents.

As per the latest rules of Election Commission, it is mandatory for all candidates to advertise their criminal records during campaigning. Will this help? To some extent, yes. Says former DGP PKB Chakraborty, “Educated voters are influenced to some extent, but all voters aren't affected. Parties have their own calculations about winnability. We still don't have any law to stop criminals with pending cases not to contest.”

The other side of the story is that a candidate might “not always be a criminal”. “There are cases when a politician gets involved while he is doing something for the public. For instance, organizing a public rally or a rasta roko protest. He gains a robinhood image which parties want to cash and thus offer him a ticket,” says advocate Ranjan Deshpande.

Many cases are lodged with ulterior motives, adds Chakraborty. “Unfortunately, police investigation is not always impartial. Therefore, details in media can help the voter to decide whether or not to vote for the person. The vernacular media has larger reach to semi-literate and illiterate voters and can play important role in such situations,” he said.

Another way out is selectiveness. “Candidates charged with offences involving moral turpitude should not be offered tickets. They should be strictly dealt,” adds Deshpande.

However, the ultimate decision-makers continue to be voters who bear the responsibility. “Political parties don’t go on moral grounds. The only criteria they follow while giving tickets is electoral merit. If voters don’t mind choosing a leader with a criminal background, why should parties? Winnability matters,” says noted lawyer Firdos Mirza.

Prominent Criminal Cases

Nitin Gadkari | Nagpur | BJP — Fraud, Defamation, Obstructing public servant

Prataprao Jadhav | Buldhana | Shiv Sena — Booked under Negotiable Instruments Act

Rajdendra Shingane | Buldhana | NCP — Fraud

Hidayatulla Patel | Akola | Congress — Arms act, riot cases

Navneet Rana | Amravati | Yuva Swabhiman Party — Dishonesty, Forgery using fraud documents

Pramod Gajbhiye | Bhandara-Gondia | Independent — Criminal Assault

Nana Patole | Congress | Nagpur — Burning effigy of Narendra Modi

District-Wise percentage of candidates with criminal charges

1. Buldhana: Total: 12 No of Candidates: 4 33.33%

2. Akola: Total: 11 No of Candidates: 2 18.18%

3. Amravati: Total: 24 No of Candidates: 5 21%

4. Wardha: Total: 14 No of Criminal Candidates: 4 29%

5. Ramtek: Total: 16 No of Criminal Candidates: 0 0%

6. Nagpur: Total: 30 No of Criminal Candidates: 3 10%

7. Bhandara-Gondia: Total: 14 No of Criminal Candidates: 3 21.42%

8. Gadchiroli-Chimur: Total: 5 No of Criminal Candidates: 0 0%

9. Chandrapur: Total: 13 No of Criminal Candidates: 3 23%

10. Yavatmal-Washim: Total: 24 No of Criminal Candidates: 3 12.5%