In India, one in three Members of Parliament face criminal charges. These are not always criminal charges related to political activity and civil disobedience, usually associated with politicians. One in five Members of Parliament face serious criminal charges like kidnapping, intimidation, extortion, murder, etc. Why do so many criminals stand for election in India, and why does the Indian electorate vote these criminals into office? These are the main questions explored masterfully in Milan Vaishnav’s book,
When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics …