'Assam has 9 crorepati ministers; criminal cases against one'

As many as nine ministers in the Assam government, including chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, are crorepati and one of them has criminal cases against him, says a study.
A detailed analysis of the self-sworn affidavits of all 11 ministers in the Assam Cabinet by Assam Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) showed that their average assets were worth Rs 2.67 crore.
"Out of the 11 ministers, 9 are crorepatis. The average assets of 11 ministers are Rs 2.67 crore," the study released today by ADR said.
In terms of assets' value, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is at the seventh position among the 11 ministers.

His assets are valued at over Rs 1.85 crore, while the liability is little over Rs 2 lakh, it said.
The wealthiest is Naba Kumar Doley with assets worth Rs 7.30 crore, followed by Himanta Biswa Sarma (Rs 6.30 crore) and Rihon Daimari (more than Rs 3.02 crore).

Others ahead of Sonowal are Ranjit Dutta, Atul Bora (both have assets valued at over Rs 2 crore) and Pramila Rani Brahma (Rs 1.87 crore).
Out of these seven ministers, four are from the BJP, while Daimari and Brahma represent Bodoland Peoples Front. Bora is from Asom Gana Parishad.
"The minister with the lowest declared total assets is Parimal Suklabadya from Dholai constituency with assets worth Rs 37.92 lakh," ADR said.

A total of nine ministers have declared liabilities, with Himanta Biswa Sarma having the highest at Rs 2.14 crore.
"Only one minister has declared criminal cases against himself. He is Naba Kumar Doley of BJP from Dhakuakhana constituency with one charge related to giving false evidence, one charge related to fabricating false evidence and one charge related to false evidence in his affidavit," ADR said.
Sarbananda Sonowal was yesterday sworn in as the 14th chief minister of Assam heading a 11-member ministry.
With regard to education qualification, it said that a total of nine ministers are graduates or have higher degrees, while two have education qualification of 12th pass.

A total of three ministers have declared their age between 30 to 50 years and eight are aged between 51 and 70.
Out of the 11 ministers, only one is woman, the study added.