Crime 038; the polls: 10 with criminal record 151; all BSP

This calls for cheer in the poll season. Out of 895 candidates contesting the upcoming Assembly elections, no one but 10 figure prominently in police records.

This calls for cheer in the poll season. Out of 895 candidates contesting the upcoming Assembly elections, no one but 10 figure prominently in police records. And all 10 represent the Bahujan Samaj Party BSP.

The candidate from Seelampur, Haji Afzal, is a 8216;bad character8217; with 22 heinous cases, including three murder and four attempt to murder cases. Afzal 34 has also been running a gang of extortionists for several years.

8220;He has amassed a lot of wealth through his criminal ways,8221; a senior police officer said. Mateen Ahmed from Congress and Sita Ram Gupta from BJP are other main candidates from Seelampur.

Congress8217;s Ahmed said, 8220;It seems Delhi is going the Bihar and UP way. He Afzal has been trying to threaten my voters and workers but no one dares complain against him. The voters are too scared to openly support anyone else.8221;

Afzal could not be reached for comment.

Contesting from Matia Mahal, Abhay Singh Yadav faces three cases, including one for murder. Yadav, who set out as an 8216;influential8217; person in the area before going on to become a builder, left Congress to join BSP some six months ago. His brother, Vijay Yadav, was allegedly killed by Congress councillor Ashok Jain.

In his affidavit, Yadav has declared property worth Rs 4 crore, and a business of sanitary fittings. Unfazed, he proclaims that voters will ignore his criminal record.

8220;Voters today need a third choice,8221; Yadav said. 8220;Both the Congress and the BJP have taken turns in Delhi Secretariat, but the common man has been the loser.8221;

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Trying to illustrate how both parties 8220;talk in circles8221;, he said, 8220;The Congress fought the 1993 election campaign on pricerise; the BJP is doing the same this time. What8217;s the difference between them?.8221;

The constituency has an interesting contest on the cards: between Congress8217;s Mahmood Zia, BJP8217;s Talat Sultana, and Lok Janshakti Party8217;s Shoaib Iqbal.

While security for women has emerged as a key campaign issue, BSP8217;s Deoli candidate Lal Pradhan has a case of molestation against him. The case is pending trial. The party8217;s Tuglaqabad candidate Shahi Ram Pehlwan has four heinous cases against him awaiting trial. BSP8217;s Delhi unit general secretary Kanwar Singh Tanwar declined to comment on the issue.

Crime record
BADLI: Rajesh Yadav 506 IPC; criminal intimidation
RITHALA: Ranvir Sraoha 306 IPC; Abetment to suicide, 148/452 IPC; rioting
BAWANA: Ramchander Khandik case under Excise Act
GOKUL PURI: Mukesh Ahlawat For defacement of walls
MATIA MAHAL: Abhay Singh Yadav 506 IPC; criminal intimidation, 307 IPC; attempt to murder, 302 IPC; murder
PATEL NAGAR: Madan Valmiki 3 cases for defacement of walls
MOTI NAGAR: Virender Mahajan rash and negligent driving
TUGHLAQABAD: Sahi Pehlwan 4 heinous cases
SEELAMPUR: Haji Afzal 22 heinous cases