70% Kerala MLAs Face Criminal Cases, More Than Half Are Crorepatis: ADR Report
Nearly 70% of sitting MLAs in Kerala have declared criminal cases against themselves, while more than half are crorepatis, according to a new report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Kerala Election Watch. The analysis covered 132 sitting MLAs and found that 92 legislators have declared pending criminal cases in their affidavits.
The report says 33 MLAs, or 25%, face serious criminal cases, including charges related to murder and attempt to murder. Two MLAs have declared murder charges, while three have declared attempt-to-murder cases. It also found that three MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women, including one rape case.
On the financial side, the report found that 72 of the 132 MLAs analysed, or 55%, are crorepatis. Their combined assets stand at around Rs 363.78 crore, highlighting the strong wealth profile of a large share of Kerala’s current legislators.
The age profile in the report shows that most Kerala MLAs are older legislators, with 92 MLAs aged between 51 and 80, while 40 fall in the 25-50 age group. The report also noted that only 11 women MLAs are part of the current assembly.
In terms of education, 81 MLAs are graduates or above, 48 studied between Class 5 and Class 12, and three hold diploma qualifications, according to the survey findings.
The ADR report comes at a politically significant time, as Kerala heads toward the 2026 Assembly election and major alliances weigh whether to field sitting legislators again. The findings are likely to sharpen debate over candidate selection, criminalisation of politics, and the growing role of money power in elections.
Overall, the report paints a striking picture of Kerala’s current assembly: a legislature where a large majority of members have declared criminal cases, and more than half have assets above Rs 1 crore. With the state moving closer to elections, the numbers are likely to fuel renewed scrutiny of political accountability and electoral reform.
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