Patna, Oct 9: Out of the 456 candidates contesting the second phase of the Bihar assembly elections, 142 (31%) candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves. 

110 (24%) candidates have declared serious criminal cases including cases related to murder, attempt to murder, communal disharmony, kidnapping, crimes against women etc says a report prepared by the Association for Democratic Reforms. 

11 candidates have declared cases related to murder (Indian Penal Code Section-302). Ramendra Ram of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) from Chenari (SC) constituency has declared 2 charges related to murder while rest of the candidates face one charge each. 

2 candidates of Garib Janata (Secular), 1 of Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation (CPI (ML)(L)), 1 candidate fielded by Rashtriya Lok Samta Party, 1 by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and 5 Independent candidates have declared cases related to murder in their affidavits. 

36 candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC Section-307). Munna Ram, a CPI (ML)(L) candidate from Mohania constituency faces 4 charges related to attempt to murder. 

Ramendra Ram of the BSP from Chenari (SC) constituency and Prabhat Kumar Ranjan of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) from Ghosi constituency have declared 3 charges related to attempt to murder. 

While CPI (ML)(L) fielded 4 candidates facing charges related to attempt to murder, BSP fielded 3. 12 Independent candidates have each declared charges related to attempt to murder. 

Crimes against Women: 

6 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women. 1 candidate fielded by BSP, 1 by RJD, 1 by Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha and 1 Independent candidate have each declared offence related to assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty (IPC Section-354). 

2 candidates have declared cases relating to causing communal disharmony. 

Pradeep Kumar Joshi of Rashtra Sewa Dal from Dheri constituency has declared 2 charges related to deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs (IPC Section-295A) and 1 case 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). 

Vikas Singh, an Independent candidate from Bhabua constituency has declared 1 charge 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 1 charge related to injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class (IPC Section-295). 

4 candidates have declared cases related to robbery and dacoity. 

Naresh Kumar Bharti, an Independent candidate from Bodh Gaya (SC) constituency has declared 2 charges related to dacoity (IPC Section-395) and 1 charge each related to making preparation to commit dacoity (IPC Section-399) and assembling for purpose of committing dacoity (IPC Section - 402). Satyendra Sah of Samajwadi Party (SP) from Sasaram constituency has declared 1 charge each related to dacoity (IPC Section-395) and robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt (IPC Section-397).

5 candidates have declared cases related to Kidnapping.

3 candidates have declared offence related to kidnapping for ransom etc. (IPC Section-364A).

Party wise Candidates with Criminal Cases: 11 (69%) out of 16 candidates from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 4 (31%) out of 13 candidates from Communist Party of India (CPI), 15 (47%) out of 32 candidates from BSP, 9 (69%) out of 13 candidates fielded by Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), 6 (32%) out of 19 candidates from SP, 9 (69%) out of 13 candidates of RJD, 4 (67%) out of 6 candidates fielded by Indian National Congress (INC), 1 (7%) out of 14 candidates of Shiv Sena (SHS) along with 9 (47%) out of 19 candidates of the CPI(ML) (L) and 34 (23%) out of 146 Independent candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits. 6 (38%) out of 16 candidates from BJP,2 (15%) out of 13 candidates from CPI, 11 (34%) out of 32 candidates from BSP, 5 (38%) out of 13 candidates fielded by JD(U), 5 (26%) out of 19 candidates from SP, 9 (69%) out of 13 candidates of RJD, 1 (17%) out of 6 candidates fielded by INC, 1 (7%) out of 14 candidates of SHS along with 9 (47%) out of 19 candidates of the CPI(ML) (L) and 31 (21%) out of 146 Independent candidates have declared serious criminal cases against themselves in their affidavits.

23 constituencies in the second phase of Bihar assembly elections have 3 or more candidates with declared criminal cases.

Aurangabad constituency with 9 candidates has the highest number of candidates who have self-declared criminal cases against themselves.

Financial background of candidates: Out of the 456 candidates, 106 (23%) are crorepatis. 9 (56%) out of 16 fielded by BJP, 10 (77%) out of 13 candidates from JD(U), 8 (62%) out of 13 candidates from RJD, 8 (42%) out of 19 candidates fielded by SP, 3 (50%) out of 6 candidates of INC, 4 (31%) out of 13 candidates of CPI, 15(47%) out of 32 candidates of BSP and 22 (15%) out of 146 Independent candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs. 1 crore. The average of assets per candidate contesting in the second phase of Bihar assembly elections is Rs.1.18 crores.

Among major parties, the average assets per candidate for 16 BJP candidates is Rs 4.19 crores, 32 BSP candidates have average assets of Rs 2.78 crores, 13 JD(U) candidates have average assets worth of Rs 1.65 crores, 6 INC candidates have average assets worth Rs 1.44 crores, 13 RJD candidates have average assets worth of Rs 1.89 crores, average assets of 19 SP candidates are Rs 2.12 crores, 13 CPI candidates have average assets of Rs 61.88 lakhs and 146 Independent candidates have average assets of Rs. 82.46 lakhs.