Increase in cases against MPs, MLAs in the country in two years

New delhi date. 10

The criminalization of politics has not stopped despite the harsh observations and directives of the Supreme Court. The cases against MPs and MLAs have increased significantly in the last two years, the Supreme Court was told on Tuesday.

As per the details given to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, there were a total of 9,12 cases pending against MPs and MLAs in December 2017, which had risen to 9,8 by September 2020. In a PIL filed for fast-tracking criminal cases against leaders, senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, appointed by the Supreme Court as amicus curiae, gave some reasons for the increase in pending cases. He said factors like state governments' order to withdraw cases against MLAs, special court jury and two-year fixed term for MPs and judicial officers in special courts for MLAs were the reasons for pending cases against leaders.

According to Amicus Curiae, there were eight cases pending in Bihar till September 2020. In July 2021, this number has increased to 9. A bench of Chief Justice NV Raman considered the 19th report on pending cases against MPs and MLAs and gave some directions. According to a separate report filed by the Enforcement Directorate, 12 current and former MPs are facing trial under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).