24 of 34 ministers lawbreakers, 31 multi-millionaires

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A recent report from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed that as many as 24 of the 34 ministers in the recently-formed Karnataka Legislative Assembly by the Congress are lawbreakers, while 21 are multi-millionaires.

That translates to 75 per cent of ministers having pending criminal cases against them, while 97 per cent are multi-millionaires, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

As many as seven ministers have serious criminal cases against them. Engaging in criminal intimidation, participating in riots, wielding dangerous weapons, destroying records to obstruct evidence and endangering lives or the safety of others are charges these ministers are facing.

Besides, the average assets of 32 ministers, which are 97 per cent, is 1.19 billion rupees or $14.4 million, according to the report. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar has the highest assets, valued at 14.13 billion in rupees or 171 million in USD, while Timmapur Ramappa Balappa from the Mudhol (SC) constituency has assets worth 5.8 million in rupees or 70,880 in USD.

Further, the report also highlights the education qualification of the Cabinet ministers, which revealed that as many as 19 per cent of the ministers do not have a degree and their education qualification stands between the 8th and 12th grades. About 75 per cent of the ministers hold a graduate degree or higher while two ministers are diploma holders. The lone woman Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar has assets worth 130 million in rupees or 1.57 million in USD.