Three candidates of the total 80, who are contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the state, where polling will be held in the fifth phase on May 20, are booked for cases related to crime against women. Of the three, one has declared a case related to rape, and is charged under IPC Section-376. Another five have declared cases related to attempt to murder under IPC Section-307.

The report released on Sunday by Association for Democratic Reforms and Bihar Election Watch on the basis of analysis of self-sworn affidavits of the candidates revealed this information.

Altogether 13 (16%) and 15 (19%) of the total 80 candidates in the fray from five constituencies — Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Saran, Hajipur (SC) — have declared facing cases of serious criminal offence and nature respectively.

The sole candidate of JD(U) and Congress are facing serious criminal charges, while two each of RJD and BJP are facing cases of criminal and serious offences.

Independent Sanjay Kumar contesting from Muzaffarpur is facing a maximum number of criminal cases, including serious offences under IPC Section-307 (attempt to murder) and IPC Section-304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).

Krishna Kishore, another independent candidate in the fray from Sitamarhi, is at the second spot and is booked for offences related to rape as well as attempt to murder among others. He is the only candidate facing the rape charge.

BJP’s Ashok Kumar Yadav from Madhubani seat is at the third spot in facing criminal cases, including one for attempt to murder.

Bharatiya Ekta Dal’s Gyani Kumar Sharma from Saran is at fourth place for criminal offences, including cases related to cheating under IPC Section-420.

In their financial declaration, 27 (34%) candidates have declared assets worth over Rs 1 crore. All the contestants of major political parties, including RJD, BJP, JD(U), Congress and LJP (RV), are crorepatis.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad’s daughter Rohini Acharya, who is making her electoral debut from Saran, is the richest candidate with declared total assets of over Rs36 cr.

Ajay Nishad, who switched over to Congress from BJP after being denied ticket, and Raj Bhushan Choudhary of BJP, both contesting from Muzaffarpur are at second and third spots with total declared assets of over Rs29cr and Rs16cr respectively.