The second part of our series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ministers with a criminal record.
Read the first part here: How serious are the charges against Modi’s ministers?
Also see: Not all bad guys: The real story of Indian politicians' ethics
Ram Vilas Paswan
Ministry: Consumer affairs, food and public distribution.
Age: 67
Criminal cases: 2
Ram Vilas Paswan is accused under IPC section 504 in one case and under Section 171 (c) in another.
In the first case he has been charged with intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace and in the second he has been charged with exerting undue influence in elections.
Both the cases are pending at the Hajipur court.
If convicted: Ram Vilas Paswan can get a maximum of two years in jail.
Uma Bharti
Ministry: Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
Age: 55
Criminal cases: 13
Uma Bharti has been charged under IPC sections 145, 147, 148, 149, 153A, 153B, 505, 500, 506, 188, 171(H), 307, 341, 323, 294 and 427.
Besides, she has also been charged under the Press and Registration Books Act section 3 & 12. Under the Representation of People’s Act she has been charged under section 127 (A). Other serious charges against her are under Arms Act sections 25 & 27.
She has been accused of rioting, attempt to murder, unlawful assembly, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, criminal force to deter public servant, imputations; assertions prejudicial to national integration, and statements conducing public mischief. Besides, she has also been charged with defamation.
These cases have been registered at different police stations and the court proceedings are going on in different parts of the country, like Ayodhya, Taliya Bhopal, Rae Bareli, Charkhri Mahoba and Chatarpur. Cognisance has been taken in five cases and three cases have been suspended. In rest of the cases appeals have filed to dismiss the case in court.
If convicted: Uma Bharti can be sentenced to life imprisonment under IPC section 307, and in other cases she can be sentenced to anywhere between two and seven years imprisonment as per sections of the IPC under which she has been charged.
Raosaheb Dadarao Danve
Ministry: MoS, Consumer affairs, food and public distribution
Age: 60
Criminal cases: 4
Raosaheb Dadarao Danve is accused under IPC sections 143, 146, 147, 149, 341, 353 and 504. Besides, he has been accused under the Bombay Police Act section 135 and PDPPA section 3.
He has been charged with rioting, unlawful assembly, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, and mischief causing damage to public property.
Three cases have been registered at Jafabad and one case has been registered at Jalna. Cognisance has been taken by the court in all the cases.
If convicted: Raosaheb Dadarao Danve will be sentenced to maximum of two years imprisonment.
Sanjeev Kumar Balyan
Ministry: MoS, Agriculture & food processing industries
Age: 41
Criminal cases: 1
Sanjeev Kumar Balyan is accused under IPC sections 188, 353 and 341 and the Criminal Law Amendment Act section 7.
Balyan is accused of disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant, assault or use of criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty, punishment for wrongful restraint, and sexual harassment.
He is one of the main accused in last year’s Muzaffarnagar riots in Uttar Pradesh.
The cases are registered at Sikhoda zilla, Muzaffarnagar police station, Uttar Pradesh. Cognisance has been taken by the court in this case.
If convicted: Sanjeev Kumar Balyan can get anywhere between five and seven years’ imprisonment.
Dharmendra Pradhan
Ministry: Petroleum and natural gas (MoS, independent charge)
Age: 44
Criminal cases: 2
In the first case, Dharmendra Pradhan is accused under IPC sections 341, 186, 294 and 24 and PDPP Act section 3. And in another one, he is accused under IPC sections 143, 283, 341, 504, 149, 147 and 174.
He has been accused of punishment for wrongful restraint, obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions, obscene acts and songs, mischief causing damage to public property, unlawful assembly, danger or obstruction in public way, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, rioting and non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant.
The case has been registered at Puri and Kunchinda, Orissa. In one case chargesheet has not been filed and in another cognisance has been taken by the Kunchinda court.
If convicted: Dharmendra Pradhan will be sentenced to two years imprisonment.
Upendra Kushwaha
Ministry: MoS, Rural development, panchayati raj & drinking water and sanitation
Age: 51
Criminal cases: 4
Upendra Kushwaha has been charged under IPC sections 188 and 171 (E) in these four cases.
He has been charged for disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant and for bribery.
The cases have been registered at Noor Sarai and Deep Nagar police station. Cognisance has been taken by the court in all the cases.
If convicted: Upendra Kushwaha will be imprisoned for a maximum of one year in these cases.
Prakash Javdekar
Ministry: Information and broadcasting (MoS, independent charge), environment, forest and climate change (independent charge) & MoS, parliamentary affairs
Age: 63
Criminal case: 1
Prakash Javdekar has been accused under IPC section 500.
He has been accused of defamation.
Cognisance has been taken by additional chief metropolitan magistrate, Kurla court, Mumbai, in 2004.
If convicted: Prakash Javdekar will be sentenced to two years imprisonment.
Nihalchand Chauhan
Ministry: MoS, Chemicals and fertilisers
Age: 43
Criminal case: 1
Nihalchand Chauhan is a BJP MP from Ganganagar, Rajasthan. He however did not mention any cases against him in his affidavit filed with the Election Commission while contesting the elections.
However, after he won the election and became a minister, a married woman claimed that Chauhan had raped her. Apparently the case was registered in 2011 and subsequently, in June 2014, a Jaipur court sent a notice to Nihalchand and 16 others asking them why the case ought not to be reopened.
The BJP has stood by its minister, refusing to sack him from the Union council.
