By A RepresentativeClaiming to having assets worth Rs 40.32 crore, fourth highest among India’s new council of ministers chosen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, de facto No 2, home minister Amit Shah, faces charges related to criminal intimidation (IPC Section-506), mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc. (IPC Section436) promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (IPC Section-153A), and so on.
A report by National Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms, which analyses the self-sworn affidavits of 56 ministers out of 58 ministers (including Prime Minister) from Lok Sabha 2019 and current Rajya Sabha, says that out of the 56 ministers analysed, 22 (39%) ministers have declared criminal cases against themselves. The details of two minister, Ramvilas Paswan, minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, and Dr S Jaishankar, foreign minister, were not analysed as they "are not currently members of either house."
Out of the 56 ministers analysed, 16 (29%) have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to attempt to murder, communal disharmony, electoral violations etc. V Muraleedharan from Maharashtra, a Rajya Sabha Member of BJP, has “declared a case related to attempt to murder (IPC Section-307) Minister with case related to attempt to murder.
In all, there are six ministers who have declared cases related to causing communal disharmony, another six have declared cases related to “promoting enmity” between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony (IPC Section-153A) and deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs (IPC Section-295A).
The ministers with declared cases related to causing communal disharmony are Amit Shah, Giriraj Singh, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Babul Supriyo, Nityanand Rai and Pralhad Joshi.
Three ministers have declared cases related to Illegal payments in connection with an election (IPC Section171H), Bribery (IPC Section – 171E) and undue influence or personation at an election (IPC Section-171F). These are Nitin Gadkari, Giriraj Singh, and Ashwini Kumar Choubey.
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