Poll-bound Himachal has 69 candidates with criminal cases

Out of the 69 candidates with declared criminal cases, 30 have declared serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, reports Vicky Nanjappa

In Himachal Pradesh, the Indian National Congress tops the list with the most number of criminal candidates who will contest the forthcoming assembly elections. A report prepared by the Himachal Pradesh Election Watch in association with the Association for Democratic Reforms shows that out of the 445 candidates, 69 have criminal cases pending against them.

Out of these 445 candidates analysed for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Elections, 69 candidates or 16 per cent declared criminal cases against them. In the 2007 assembly elections for the whole of Himachal Pradesh, 18 per cent candidates had declared criminal cases against them.

Amongst the major parties, every party has given tickets to candidates who have declared criminal cases. INC has 16 out of 68 (24  per cent), the Bharatiya Janata Party has 7 out of 67 (10 per cent), Bahujan Samaj Party has 8 out of 62 (13  per cent), Himachal Lokhit Party has 6 out of 32 (19 per cent), All India Trinamool Congress has 2 out of 26 (8 per cent), Communist Party of India-Marxist has 10 out of 16 (63 per cent) and 9 out oOut of these 69 candidates with declared criminal cases, 30 have declared serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortionf 98 (9 per cent) independent candidates have declared criminal cases.

Out of these 69 candidates with declared criminal cases, 30 have declared serious criminal cases like murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortionetc. CPM has 5, INC has 5, BJP has 4, HLP has 1 and BSP has 5 such candidates.

Out of these 69 candidates with declared criminal cases, charges have been framed against 41 candidates with cases of kidnapping, theft, dacoity etc. 

The following candidates have declared serious criminal cases of murder, kidnapping and theft against them: 

Tikender Panwar (of CPM from Shimla constituency) has declared two charges of murder and attempt to murder.

Kushal Bhardwaj (of CPM from Jogindernagar constituency) has declared one charge of attempt to murder. 

Ramesh Chand (of BJP contesting from Jawalamukhi) has declared one charge related to kidnapping.

Ramesh Dutt (SSH) from Fatehpur constituency has declared one charge relating to theft

Rattan Chand (CPI) contesting from Chamba too has declared one charge relating to theft amongst other charges.

Candidates with cases under Prevention of Corruption Act: Six candidates have declared that they have cases registered against them under the "Prevention of Corruption Act", namely Virbhadra Singh (INC) from Shimla Rural constituency, Anirudh Singh (INC) contesting from Kasumpti, Harish (INC) from Shimla constituency, Suresh Chandel (BJP) from Bilaspur constituency, Rajiv Bindal (BJP) from Nahan constituency and Daulat Ram (HLP) contesting from Bilaspur constituency.