Criminal cases against Odisha MPs and MLAs revealed in Assembly

Bhubaneswar, March 10: A startling revelation in the Odisha Assembly has brought to light the number of criminal cases registered against both former and sitting MPs and MLAs in the state, raising serious concerns over the integrity of elected representatives.

In response to a question by Opposition Deputy Leader Prasanna Acharya, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling stated that 22 cases have been registered against former and sitting MPs, with an additional 39 criminal cases recorded. The data further reveals a concerning scenario for MLAs, as former and current legislators are facing 115 cases, with a total of 418 criminal cases registered against them.

Among these cases, 384 are currently under trial, while 14 trials have been completed. Additionally, investigations are ongoing for 43 cases. Notably, 198 cases have been classified as political in nature.

This revelation has reignited debates on the need for stricter laws and transparency in Odisha’s political landscape. Experts argue that urgent reforms are necessary to ensure elected officials maintain ethical governance and accountability.