The formation of the new Bihar cabinet has brought the personal and legal backgrounds of its members into the spotlight. While the wealth of the ministers is significant, the ADR report also points to a concerning number of criminal cases within the executive branch. Out of the 24 ministers analyzed, 46% (11 ministers) have criminal cases registered against them. Even more significant is the fact that 38% (9 ministers) are facing serious criminal charges, highlighting a complex intersection of political power and legal scrutiny in the state’s governance. The distribution of these cases across parties shows that six out of 13 BJP ministers have criminal records, with all six facing serious charges. In the JD(U), two out of eight ministers have declared cases, while both ministers from the LJP-Ram Vilas party have criminal backgrounds.
