A recent report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed that as many as 151 sitting MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women in their election affidavits. West Bengal has the highest number of lawmakers facing such cases, further spotlighting the issue amid nationwide protests over recent incidents of violence against women.

The report analyzed 4,693 out of 4,809 affidavits of sitting MPs and MLAs submitted to the Election Commission of India between 2019 and 2024. The findings show that 16 MPs and 135 MLAs are currently facing charges related to crimes against women.

West Bengal leads with 25 sitting MPs and MLAs facing these charges, followed closely by Andhra Pradesh with 21 and Odisha with 17. This report gains significance in the backdrop of the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in a state-run hospital in Kolkata and the sexual assault of two children in Thane.

Among the lawmakers, 16 sitting MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to rape under IPC Section 376, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and can extend to life imprisonment. Of these, two are MPs and 14 are MLAs, with some cases involving repeated offenses against the same victim, highlighting the severity of the allegations.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tops the list with 54 MPs and MLAs having declared cases related to crimes against women, followed by the Congress with 23 and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) with 17.