January 22, 2026

Know Your MP Guide Check Criminal Records, Assets & Education (Bio-Data

"Know Your MP Guide: Check Criminal Records, Assets & Education (Bio-Data)" description: "The ultimate 24x7 guide to researching your Member of Parliament. Learn how to access official bio-data on Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha websites, check criminal antecedents on MyNeta, and decode election affidavits." date: 2026-01-13 author: Resources Desk | Sansad Online tags: [Know Your MP, MyNeta, ADR, Election Affidavit, Criminal Records, MP Assets, Lok Sabha Members]

🕵️ 24x7 Resource: Know Your MP (The Background Check)

The Dossier Hub

Access the full history of the person representing you.

  • Official Bio: loksabha.nic.in (For positions held & education).
  • Criminal/Asset Check: myneta.info (The Association for Democratic Reforms database).
  • Affidavit Source: affidavit.eci.gov.in (Original legal documents).
  • Motto: "Vote for the Candidate, not just the Party."
🏛️ REALITY CHECK: As of the 18th Lok Sabha (2024), nearly 46% of MPs have declared criminal cases against themselves, and the average assets of an MP is over ₹38 Crore. Knowing these stats is your right.

Introduction: Beyond the Poster

(Why You Must Audit Your Representative)

During election season, you see your MP's face on massive hoardings, smiling with folded hands. You know their party symbol. You know their leader. But do you know them?

  • Does your MP actually have the PhD they claim?
  • Did their wealth triple in the last 5 years while the constituency remained poor?
  • Are they facing charges for "Rioting" or "Hate Speech" that have been buried under legal delays?

In the age of information, voting blindly is inexcusable. The Supreme Court of India (in landmark judgments like Union of India vs. ADR) has mandated that every candidate must disclose their criminal antecedents, assets, and educational qualifications on a sworn affidavit (Form 26).

This "24x7 Resource Page" is your toolkit to access these disclosures. We will teach you how to distinguish between "Political Cases" (like protesting) and "Serious Crimes" (like kidnapping), how to track the exponential growth of an MP's wealth, and where to find their official parliamentary track record.

🏛️ Source 1: The Official Bio-Data (Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha)

For a dignified, resume-style overview, start with the Parliament website.

  1. Go to loksabha.nic.in -> Members -> Member Search.
  2. Type your Constituency or MP Name.
  3. Click on the MP’s profile.

What You Will Find

  • Educational Qualifications: It will list the degrees and the university. (e.g., B.A., LL.B. from Delhi University).
  • Profession: What they do outside politics (e.g., Agriculturist, Lawyer, Business).
  • Positions Held: A chronological list of their career.
    • Example: "Member, Standing Committee on Defence (2019-2024)." This tells you what policy areas they specialize in.
  • Contact Details: Their official Delhi address and permanent address, along with email IDs.
  • Social Category: SC/ST/OBC status (if applicable).

Limitation: This is self-reported and sanitized. It won't mention scandals or controversies.

⚖️ Source 2: The "Real" Data (MyNeta / ADR)

If you want the unvarnished truth, you need the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). Their portal, MyNeta, acts as the watchdog of Indian democracy.

How to Use MyNeta.info

  1. Search: Enter your MP's name or Constituency in the search bar.
  2. The "Red" Box: The first thing you see is a summary of Criminal Cases.
    • Serious IPC Counts: Look for this number. "Serious" crimes include murder, rape, kidnapping, and corruption.
    • Brief: It gives a one-line summary of the charge (e.g., IPC Section 307 - Attempt to Murder).
  3. The "Green" Box: This lists Financial Assets.
    • Movable Assets: Cash, Bank Deposits, Jewelry, Cars.
    • Immovable Assets: Land, Houses, Commercial Buildings.
    • Liabilities: Loans they owe to banks.
  4. Growth Comparison: If the MP is re-elected, MyNeta shows a comparison chart: "Assets in 2019: ₹5 Cr -> Assets in 2024: ₹15 Cr (+200%)". This is the most telling statistic.

📜 Source 3: The Affidavit (Form 26)

If you want legal proof, download the Original Affidavit. This is the document the candidate signed on oath before the Returning Officer. Lying here is a crime.

How to Access

  • Go to the Election Commission of India (ECI) affidavit portal: affidavit.eci.gov.in.
  • Select the Election (e.g., General Election to Lok Sabha 2024).
  • Select the Constituency.
  • Download the PDF next to your MP's name.

Decoding the Fine Print

  • Page 1: PAN Card number and Income Tax returns of the last 5 years. (Check if their income matches their lifestyle).
  • The "Pending Cases" Table: Candidates often hide details here. Look for the column "Cognizance taken by Court." If a court has taken cognizance, the case is serious, not just a frivolous police complaint.
  • Spouse's Assets: Often, assets are parked in the husband's/wife's name to lower the MP's own profile. Always look at the "Gross Total Value" of the family, not just the individual.

🕵️ Analyzing the Data: What to Look For?

Data is useless without context. Here is how to interpret what you find.

1. Education: "Literate" vs. "Graduate"

  • Sometimes the bio says "Educated till Class 8" but the MP is referred to as "Doctor." Check if the doctorate is Honorary (given by a university) or Academic (earned through study).
  • Discrepancies: Check if their 2019 affidavit said "Class 12 Pass" and 2024 affidavit says "BA Graduate." Did they actually go to college while being an MP?

2. Criminal Cases: "Political" vs. "Criminal"

  • Political Case: IPC 188 (Disobedience to order), IPC 143 (Unlawful Assembly). These usually mean the MP led a protest or blocked a road. Most active politicians have these.
  • Criminal Case: IPC 302 (Murder), IPC 376 (Rape), Prevention of Corruption Act. These are red flags.
  • Note: Under Indian law, a person is innocent until proven guilty. However, knowing the charges helps you decide if you trust them.

3. Assets: The "Business" Interest

  • If your MP owns a massive "Construction Company" (check the "Investment in Shares" section), and then pushes for "Real Estate Deregulation" in Parliament, that is a Conflict of Interest.
  • Check their Liabilities. If an MP owes ₹100 Crore to banks, are they under pressure from those banks?

Your investigation toolkit:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Can a person with a criminal record become an MP?

Yes. Currently, the law only bars convicted criminals (jailed for 2+ years) from contesting elections (Section 8 of RPA, 1951).

  • Pending cases (undertrials) do not stop someone from becoming an MP, even if they are in jail during the election (e.g., Amritpal Singh in 2024).

Q2. What happens if an MP lies in their affidavit?

If it is proven that an MP gave false information (e.g., fake degree or hiding a wife's property), their election can be declared Void by the High Court.

  • The offence is also punishable under Section 125A of the RPA, 1951 (up to 6 months jail), though convictions are rare.

Q3. Why do some MPs have "Dr." before their name?

It can be either an MBBS/Medical degree (e.g., Dr. Jitendra Singh) or a PhD (e.g., Dr. Shashi Tharoor). Check the "Educational Qualifications" section to know which one. Beware of "Honorary Doctorates" from dubious universities.

Q4. Can I get the MP's phone number?

Yes. The Lok Sabha website lists the Permanent Phone Number and Delhi Office Number. However, these are usually managed by PAs (Personal Assistants). Getting the MP on the line personally is difficult.

Q5. What is the "Lily Thomas" Judgment?

It is the famous 2013 Supreme Court verdict that struck down the protection for convicted MPs. Earlier, convicted MPs could keep their seat if they filed an appeal within 3 months. Now, an MP is immediately disqualified the moment they are convicted for 2+ years (e.g., Rahul Gandhi's temporary disqualification in 2023).

Bookmark this page. Democracy works best when the voter is a detective.