Chief Ministers and criminality: 45% of India’s CMs have cases pending against them

Published 29 July 2026 · politics

45% (14) of India’s current Chief Ministers have criminal cases lodged against them, with Telangana’s Revanth Reddy topping the list, according to an analysis done

45% (14) of India’s current Chief Ministers have criminal cases lodged against them, with Telangana’s Revanth Reddy topping the list, according to an analysis done by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Of the 89 cases lodged against Mr. Reddy, 72 are under serious sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) such as criminal intimidation, promoting enmity and assault, while 16 are others. The report, published on Monday (July 27, 2026), has analysed the self-sworn affidavits of CMs (from their last contested elections) of 31 States and Union territories. Criminality of CMs Following Mr. Reddy is West Bengal’s Suvendu Adhikari, who has 29 cases (39 charges of under serious IPC, 78 in others) and Karnataka’s D.K. Shivakumar with 19 cases (six under serious IPC sections, 45 in others). At the bottom of the list are Punjab’s Bhagwant Mann, Sikkim’s P.S. Tamang, Odisha’s Mohan Charan Majhi and Rajasthan’s Bhajan Lal Sharma with one case each. 11 of the 14 CMs with criminal cases against them have been booked under serious offences including bribery, criminal intimidation and in the case of Mr. Adhikari and Andhra Pradesh’s Chandrababu Naidu — attempt to murder. Also Read | About 30% of MPs and MLAs face serious criminal cases in India Digging further into the top five CMs with the highest number of criminal cases against them, criminal intimidation is the most common grievous offence allegedly committed by them.

In the case of Mr. Revanth Reddy, who has been elected thrice from Kodangal, the most grievous charge is one assault charge against a woman, followed by 34 charges of criminal intimidation and 22 counts of statements promoting community hatred. One charge of attempt to murder and two charges of sexual harassment are the most grievous charges against Mr. Adhikari. The TMC-turned-BJP politician, who has either been an MP or MLA since 2006, also has eight charges each of criminal intimidation and promoting enmity against him. In Karnataka, D.K. Shivakumar, who was been an MLA since 1989, has three charges of disappearance of evidence, and one charge each of bribery and forgery while Kerala CM V.D. Satheesan, who has represented Paravur since 2001, has three charges to deter a public servant from doing his duty, one count each under criminal intimidation, causing hurt by dangerous weapon. In Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, who has been an MLA since 2009, has one count each under forgery, cheating, theft etc. Tamil Nadu’s C Joseph Vijay, Mr. Majhi and Mr. Sharma remain the only exception with no serious offences lodged against them. While Mr. Vijay and Mr. Sharma are first time MLAs, Mr. Majhi has been elected four times to the Odisha Assembly from Keonjhar.