ADR analysed the election affidavits of 643 ministers across India.

A recent report by the election reform organisation, Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), has revealed that 302 ministers across India — around 47% — have declared criminal cases against themselves in their election affidavits. Of these, 174 face serious charges, including murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women.

At the central government level, 29 out of 72 ministers (40%) have acknowledged having criminal cases.

The analysis covers 643 ministers from 27 states, 3 union territories, and the central government, based on affidavits filed during elections held between 2020 and 2025. ADR cautioned that the status of these cases may change over time.

This report comes just days after the central government proposed that the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and other ministers be removed from office if arrested in serious criminal cases and not released within 30 days.

Wealthiest and least wealthy ministers

Richest ministers:

• Dr. Chandrasekhar Pemmasani (TDP, Andhra Pradesh) – ₹5,705 crore
• DK Shivakumar (Congress, Karnataka) – ₹1,413 crore
• N. Chandrababu Naidu (TDP, Andhra Pradesh) – ₹931 crore

Other ministers with significant wealth include Narayan Ponguru, Nara Lokesh (Andhra Pradesh), Gaddam Vivekanand, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy (Telangana), Suresha BS (Karnataka), Mangal Prabhat Lodha (Maharashtra), and Jyotiraditya Scindia (Central).

Least wealthy ministers:

• Shukla Charan Noatia (IPFD, Tripura) – ₹2 lakh
• Birbaha Hansda (TMC, West Bengal) – just over ₹3 lakh

Party-wise criminal record

• BJP: 136 out of 336 ministers (40%) have criminal cases; 88 face serious charges.
• Congress: 45 out of 61 ministers (74%) have cases; 18 face serious charges.
• DMK: 27 out of 31 ministers (87%) accused; 14 face serious cases.
• TMC: 13 out of 40 ministers (33%) have cases; 8 face serious charges.
• TDP: 22 out of 23 ministers (96%) accused; 13 face serious charges.
• Aam Aadmi Party: 11 out of 16 ministers (69%) accused; 5 face serious charges.

Ministers’ assets

The total assets of 643 ministers amount to ₹23,929 crore, averaging ₹37.21 crore per minister.

• Billionaire ministers by state: Karnataka (8), Andhra Pradesh (6), Maharashtra (4).
• Central government: 6 out of 72 ministers (8%) are billionaires.

Billionaire ministers by party:

• BJP – 14 ministers (4%)
• Congress – 11 ministers (18%)
• TDP – 6 ministers (26%)
• Other parties with billionaire ministers include AAP, Janasena, JDS, NCP, and Shiv Sena.

State-wise criminal cases

• States where over 60% of ministers have criminal cases: Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Odisha, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Puducherry.
• States with no ministers facing criminal cases: Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, Uttarakhand.