10% corporators have criminal past

Perhaps for first time in Hyderabad’s history, at least 10 per cent of corporators with criminal records are ruling the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). As many as 15 candidates, who are allegedly involved in various criminal offences, have been elected by the Hyderabad voters. Most of the criminal candidates who are elected are from the Majlis Ittehadul-e-Muslameen (MIM).

The efforts put in by social and voluntary organisations to dissuade voters from pressing the button to elect candidates with a criminal history seem to have gone unnoticed. Six candidates with criminal records are from the MIM, while four are from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), three are from the Congress and one candidate each from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Majlis-Bachao-Tehreek (MBT).

Before the GHMC elections, the Forum for Good Governance, an independent organisation, revealed that 46 candidates who were contesting had a criminal past. M Vedakumar, State Convener, Ennikala Nigha Vedika (ENV) said that even as the ENV conducted various awareness camps during the GHMC polls on the right to vote and elect good candidates for good governance, voters had failed to respond.

“The political parties are also preferring candidates with criminal background to contest in the elections,” he observed. One candidate with a criminal past, Samad-Bin-Aabad, was elected from Uppuguda on an MIM ticket. He was allegedly involved in a attack on the government officials on duty. Yousuf Nabandhi (MIM), elected from Lalithabaug attacked a police official in the Old City and organised a public meeting without permission. Khajabilal Ahmed elected from Rein Bazar (MIM) was allegedly involved in a attack on TDP MP Zahed Ali Khan. Murthuza Ali Khan (Chawni, MIM) allegedly attacked Gujarat police officials in front of the DGP’s office when they came to Hyderabad. Police filed a case against him of attempt to murder and destroying public property.

According to police records, he is still absconding. Meerj Alfakr Ali elected from Hussian (MIM) is key accused in the Charminar Bank scam and the case is under the CID investigation. Mohammed Ghouse elected from Shah Ali Banda (MIM), has eight cases against him for attacking people and threatening them. On the TDP front, Singireddy Srinivas Reddy elected from Saidabad is an accused in a cheating case of Vasavi Co-Operative Bank. Chinnaboyina Rajender who is elected from Aliabad is a history-sheeter and three criminal cases are filed against him. Raju Singh, elected from Manghalhat, is involved in five cases.

Gowreesh, elected from Jeedimetla is also facing some cases. From the Congress, S Shareef, elected from Khairatabad was allegedly involved in an attack on government officials but was acquitted. Raju Yadav, elected from Panjagutta is a former history-sheeter. He allegedly grabbed land at Survey No. 1007 and the case is pending in the court. V Jagadeeswara Rao, elected from Hafeezpet, is accused in two cases. Sahadev Yadav, elected from BJP from Kurmaguda is guilty of organising a public meeting without permission while Amjadullah Khan from MBT elected from Azampur ward attacked an on-duty Police Commissioner and Joint Commissioner.

M Padmanabha Reddy, retired IFS officer said that a number of candidates, who have eligibility were defeated by criminals because caste, money and liquor played a key role in the GHMC elections. “It is unfortunate that at least 10 per cent of corporators, who have a criminal past, are going to rule Hyderabad,” he added.

By Mouli Mareedu