11% of the 2014 Lok Sabha candidates declared serious criminal cases.
A criminal case is considered to be a serious criminal case if the punishment for the offence committed is 5 years or more; if it is a non bailable offence; if the offence pertains to electoral violation; if the offence relates to loss to exchequer; if the nature of the offence is related to assault, murder, kidnap, rape; if the offence is mentioned in Representation of the People Act (Section 8); if the offence falls under Prevention of Corruption Act or if the offence relates to crimes against women.