BackFrom Jayalalithaa to Lalu Prasad, convicted politicians’ tryst with law
'Mint' takes a look at lawmakers who in the recent years have been held guilty by the courts for various offences
Premium
New Delhi: A day after the Supreme Court upheld the conviction of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary V.K. Sasikala and two others, Mint takes a look at lawmakers who in the recent years have been held guilty by the courts for various offences.
Jayalalithaa
In 2014, then Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa and three others were convicted by a special court in Bengaluru in a case of disproportionate assets and was sentenced to four years in prison. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court abated the charges against Jayalalithaa in the 21-year-old case, in view of her death on 5 December 2016.
Lalu Prasad
In 2013, former Bihar chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted in a 17-year-old case related to the embezzlement of Rs37 crore meant for the purchase of cattle fodder for farmers in the state.
Om Prakash Chautala
Former Haryana chief minister and Indian National Lok Dal chief Om Prakash Chautala and his politician son Ajay Chautala in 2013 were sentenced to 10 years in jail in connection with irregularities linked to the recruitment of teachers in the state.
Maya Kodnani
In 2012, former minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Maya Kodnani was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court in Ahmedabad for her role in the Naroda Patia massacre during the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Bibi Jagir Kaur
In 2012, former Punjab minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader was sentenced by a special Central Bureau of Investigation court in Patiala for five years rigorous imprisonment for forcing her daughter to undergo an abortion. She was also found guilty of abducting her daughter, who was later found dead under mysterious circumstances.
Sukh Ram
The former telecom minister and Congress leader Sukh Ram was in 2011 sentenced by a Delhi trial court for accepting a Rs3-lakh bribe in 1996.
Mohammad Shahabuddin
RJD leader Mohammad Shahabuddin, in 2016, was granted bail by the Patna high court on 7 September in a case of alleged murder of a witness in the 2004 killing of two brothers in Siwan. At least 58 criminal cases are registered against him. He has been convicted in six cases, sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment in connection with kidnapping a head clerk in 2011. He was already serving life imprisonment for the kidnap and murder of an activist. The Supreme Court has cancelled his bail.
Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav
In 2008, the Lok Sabha member and RJD leader was convicted by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Patna in the murder of Communist Party of India (Marxist) legislator Ajit Sarkar.
Shibu Soren
The former Union minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Shibu Soren was convicted by a Delhi court for conspiracy in the kidnapping and murder of his former private secretary Shashi Nath Jha in 2006.
Mukhtar Ansari
In 2003, Mukhtar Ansari, a legislator from Uttar Pradesh, convicted by a Delhi court under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, which was later quashed by the Supreme Court.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
