Criminalisation

George Bernard Shaw’s famous assertion that “politics is the last resort for the scoundrel” remains disturbingly relevant in contemporary India. The country’s political landscape is marred by instances where those in power blatantly undermine the rule of law, often manipulating enforcement agencies such as the police and administrative bodies to serve their own interests rather than upholding justice. The infiltration of criminal elements into political parties has a corrosive effect on the very fabric of democracy. This troubling trend is particularly evident in several states across India and particularly so in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, where the police have been reduced to mere tools of the ruling dispensation. Instead of upholding the law, these forces often act as uniformed enforcers of the government’s will, abandoning their duty to the public. The issue is exacerbated by the appointment of pliable and corrupt officers to crucial positions within the police force. Such appointments ensure that the police are incapacitated, unable to act independently or in accordance with the law. Despite the frequent talk of police reform, these discussions often amount to little more than lip service, as no political party is genuinely interested in allowing law enforcement agencies to operate without political interference. A tragic illustration of the dangers posed by a politicized police force was seen in the horrific gang rape and murder of a female intern at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata on August 9. The police bungled the case from the outset, delaying the filing of the FIR, mishandling the post-mortem, and ultimately misclassifying the incident as an unnatural death. Even more shockingly, the police allowed a mob of 7,000 to vandalize the hospital, potentially destroying critical evidence in the process. The police commissioner responsible for this case had a history of botching investigations into similar crimes, seemingly with the intention of ensuring that the accused could evade justice. It is a grim reality that politicians in India often champion the rule of law only when they are out of power. Once in office, they quickly resort to the same abuses they previously condemned, perpetuating a cycle of lawlessness. The growing trend of state governments routinely handing over high-profile cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is symptomatic of the deeper malaise within the state police forces. This practice signals an abdication of responsibility, as state police increasingly fail to carry out thorough and impartial investigations. The Election Commission, too, has struggled to resist political pressure, often failing to take decisive action against those who flout the law yet continue to get elected. In this context, the Supreme Court has become the last line of defense, stepping in to ensure that constitutional rule is upheld. However, relying on judicial intervention to maintain the integrity of the system is not a sustainable solution. India must confront the pervasive influence of criminality in politics and restore the independence and efficacy of its law enforcement agencies. Only through meaningful reform can the nation hope to break the cycle of corruption and impunity that threatens its democratic foundations. To restore the integrity of the nation’s democratic process, it is imperative that the people become proactive and insist on electoral reform to prevent those with criminal histories from exploiting it for personal gain.