When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics

by Milan Vaishnav

The first thorough study of the co-existence of crime and democratic processes in Indian politics  

In India, the world’s largest democracy, the symbiotic relationship between crime and politics raises complex questions. For instance, how can free and fair democratic processes exist alongside rampant criminality? Why do political parties recruit candidates with reputations for wrongdoing? Why are one-third of state and national legislators elected—and often re-elected—in spite of criminal charges pending against them? In this eye-opening study, political scientist Milan Vaishnav mines a rich array of sources, including fieldwork on political campaigns and interviews with candidates, party workers, and voters, large surveys, and an original database on politicians’ backgrounds to offer the first comprehensive study of an issue that has implications for the study of democracy both within and beyond India’s borders. 

Genres: India, Politics, Nonfiction, History, Economics, Political Science, Crime

440 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Milan Vaishnav is the director and a senior fellow in the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His primary research focus is the political economy of India, and he examines issues such as corruption and governance, state capacity, distributive politics, and electoral behavior.
Previously, he worked at the Center for Global Development, where he served as a postdoctoral research fellow, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Council on Foreign Relations. He has taught at Columbia, Georgetown, and George Washington Universities. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University.

Reviews

[E.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 This is a superb book that goes indepth into the history, cause, effect and possible solutions of criminalisation of politics and politicisation of criminals in India. A major insight of the book is that criminals r elected not because voters lack information, but despite having information. This is bcoz in a non-functional judicial system, criminals provide quick fixes. Also, identity politics plays a crucial role.
The book is non-partisan and scholarly but very readable. Infact read it during a trip.
The 0.5 rating has been deducted has I felt possible solutions should have been discussed more.

[Virat hooda · Rating 4 out of 5]

link: True Wonderer
“Money is the mother’s milk of politics.” ~Jesse Unruh, American Democratic politician

Mr Unruh being a capitalist country’s politician, makes sense. But we were supposed to be better than that, were we not? After all it is after throwing off this yolk of corrupt capitalist foreign rule that we came into existence once again. But alas, that statement is more true for us than any other country in the world. Because even in America, the money that flows in politics, however much filthy, is still traceable.

This was a very interesting book to go through, on the one hand it didn’t tell me anything new. All the points, counterpoints that it provided, have been made by most citizens across this country in parlors, social gatherings, bus stops and in drunken stupors. We can all see the what and why. On the other hand, the setting and arrangement it provided, the order and statistical proofs, the live examples, give those points a good hard credible base to sit on. Which is not encouraging, we all kind of hope that our assessment “This country is going to shit” is somehow wrong. But closing one’s eyes to the truth has never been a good idea.

“India experienced the traditional state-building process in reverse order: unlike Europe, for instance, India instituted full democracy and then set about building a state. Much of the West did precisely the opposite. As a result, underdeveloped institutions have been the Achilles’ heel of Indian democracy from the outset.”

The stem of all the trouble,in our fledgling democracy, comes from this argument I believe. That statement alone gives a lot of what’s wrong, and how. Crime in politics, is undoubtedly prevalent because the institutions set up by our democracy for the care of its people are inefficient, haphazardly constructed, and too bureaucratically log-jammed. So, in such a scenario the advent of ‘God-Fathers’ who fill in the vacuum and act as an independent state is no surprise. And if there activities are acceptable to the public and the state is unable to rein them in, then the next logical step is to take power officially too. Of-course, an unending supply of illicit liquid funds for the politicians to run their never ending campaigns in this ‘always election mode’ country is another major factor. But you get the point, the caste break up and its effects, reservation in politics and its impact, the book argues many such points with hard empirical data. And then dissect the arguments to get to their social causes and effects. An interesting read indeed, for an Indian at least.

Fully deserving of the 4 stars I awarded it. The book is detailed, filled with examples and on road research with a lot of statistical analysis. Though, it is true that the arguments forwarded by all of these are not entirely new, but reading them in such a well structured form is quite informative. For every Indian politics and crime enthusiast, this is quite a worthwhile book to go through and reflect. Great work by Mr. Vaishnav. Go for it and see how money makes the world turn indeed.

[animesh jain · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author turns the main argument about why criminals persist in Indian politics on its head. over the years many activists have advocated that citizens elect criminal politicians because they are not aware about their criminal background. thus they demand greater transparency in the system. Author argues that criminals are elected because of the fact that they are criminals. he compares Indian politics with a marketplace. there are both pull and push factors at work here. Till 1980s politicians worked in cahoots with criminals to serve mutual goals. however since then criminals have themselves taken the role of politicians. the reasons for this are many, primarily being the setback to Congress hegemony with the rise of different parties.
On the other hand, citizens desire 'strongmen' primarily because of fragmented nature of Indian society. each caste group wants to see 'their men' in power to protect their community's interest. Since the formal channel of justice, law & order have practically broken down, people rely on strongmen to ensure justice delivery and resolution of disputes.
The book rely on various interviews, surveys and electoral data to drive home its point.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Crime Pays coherently demonstrates and explains how and why criminal politicians have become common and successful in India. The evidence is well arranged - however, the book would have been well-served by slightly longer vignettes/case studies of individual criminal politicians and the contingent (but hopefully representative) path they took *and* impact they had in office.

That said, the book is worth reading for anyone who wants to know why India has so many criminal politicians - which is to say, anybody who's interested in politics or policy in India.

[Jaidev Shah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some writers have it, some don’t. Vaishnav falls in the latter. Writer keep repeating the same things in all the chapters. What could be explained in a few lines, takes few pages or a chapter to explain. I guess there may not be too much to write on the subject or the author does not understand how to put his thoughts together.
I finally gave up reading the book on page 255. This book is not meant for ordinary reader - its for researchers.

[Kr Abhishek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what you call a slolidly researched book.. Almost like a scholarly article.. 70 pages of references! Phew!

It is a must read for anyone interested in understanding Indian politics and its evolution post independence..

[Sainath Sunil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riveting and exposes the underbelly of the Indian political landscape. We all knew intuitively that politics and electioneering involved lot of unregulated money flowing through various conduits, what Milan Vaishnav does here so well is to discern patterns based on data in affidavits submitted by prospective MLA's and MP's to bust a lot of myths around corruption and its trends. The book takes a look at how Indian politics has evolved since Independence when the congress was undisputed in reach, loyalty and could win elections across geographies, a lot of it changed as the grass root leadership of the congress was allowed to weakened and was in time replaced with cronies who had no real connect except their ability to command muscle and money when it was demanded for. This weakening became especially rampant with Indira Gandhi coming to power who made the congress into an inward looking party and there emerged the centralised structure of the party. The book traces the reasons why criminals who were earlier happy with being the muscle decided to integrate themselves into politics directly. This injection of criminality directly into the body politic of India was crucial and has become the trend across all state and central elections. Greater transparency seems to be the ask but the way forward looks murky as institutions lose their credibility and resources, the election commission meanwhile continues to remain a defanged institution despite the heroic tenures of a few daring CEC's. This book is a brilliant expose of campaign funding, opacity around it, why politics remains replete with dirty elements and why more information about their prospective candidates does not change how voters vote in a country where caste affiliations trump reason.

[Sneha Divakaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Money and muscle seems inevitable in politics. Systems failure seems to be the bedrock on which it grows. And till the time that the greater questions of state capacity, enabling statutory provisions are made right, it doesn’t look like money and muscle in politics is going away anytime soon.

[Prasad GR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading it ahead of the 2018 assembly elections in Karnataka, what with the papers flooded with news of the antics of our netas, it is impossible to not turn cynical. The in-depth analysis of all available data to probe the unholy nexus of politicians and criminals only substantiates what we already know. While I am not expecting all politicians to be selfless saints, what is truly disappointing is the lack of even an iota of desire for public service. Politics is a story of the wealthy chasing power and the powerful chasing wealth. Any development that takes place is then only a side-effect of these games and not the result of well-intentioned actions of the principal players. The farce that was staged around the Rajya Sabha nominations from Karnataka only furthered my disappointment.

Milan's prescriptions at the end of the book to remedy the situation are so hopelessly idealistic that I can't see any light at the end of the tunnel. One of the most depressing reads of my life - but for no fault of the author! So much so that, ever so often, I had to intentionally put this book aside after a few pages to take a breather and even switched to another book for a while before getting back.

[Suman Srivastava · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brave and well researched book. Asks and answers three questions. Why do criminals fight elections. Why parties give tickets to criminals. And why voters elect criminals. Interesting for everyone who want to know how democracies work. Especially democracies in poor countries.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

#Binge Reviewing my previous Reads #Modern Indian Politics and Government

Milan Vaishnav’s When Crime Pays: Money and Muscle in Indian Politics (2017) takes us into the beating heart of Indian democracy’s darkest paradox: that the electorate, time and again, has voted for leaders with criminal records.

Instead of treating them as outcasts, voters have embraced them, seeing their muscle and money power not as liabilities but as assets in a system plagued by weak governance and broken institutions.

The story Vaishnav tells is not just about individuals—it’s about the normalisation of corruption. Across India, the Congress Party perfected the art of patronage, distributing favours and greasing palms as the price of loyalty.

In West Bengal, the CPI(M) built a parallel raj of cadre networks, where political muscle dictated access to land, jobs, and justice. And in the Hindi heartland—the cow belt—regional parties turned corruption into a vernacular art form, blending caste loyalties with the raw display of power.

What Vaishnav does brilliantly is explain why this happens. Politicians with criminal records are seen as strongmen who can cut through bureaucratic red tape and deliver results for their community. In environments where the state has failed to protect ordinary people, a mafia don can look like a saviour. It’s a grim irony: democracy produces crime-tainted leaders because the very people who suffer from crime and corruption often see no better alternative.

The Congress under Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, the CPI(M) in Bengal, the RJD in Bihar, and the SP in Uttar Pradesh all fall under Vaishnav’s lens as part of a system where money and muscle are prerequisites for power. Campaign financing is opaque, elections are ruinously expensive, and the ability to intimidate rivals or bend the rules often guarantees survival.

Reading this during the turbulence of Indian politics in the 2010s is to see the unmasking of a republic that loves to claim moral high ground yet tolerates the ugliest bargains in everyday governance. Vaishnav doesn’t preach; he documents, and that makes his book even more unsettling.

To conclude, this book reveals that corruption is not a bug in Indian democracy—it’s the operating system itself.

[Ramesh B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am informing ,scholarly and a bit dry read the book is a real world account of how ground level politics work and why criminals suceeed in politics.

The book lists structural reasons such as caste divisions enabling strongman tendencies that people indulging in crime are able to portray effectively .It also posits evidence that the huge sums of money required for fighting election has made it easy for parties to give tickets to people who are able to bring in the money.

It also illustrates with ground level clarity as to why the people vote for people with criminal backgrounds as they see that these people are able to make the state services work for them from procuring certificates to getting a contract job to get work done with the government.

It also suggests why certain solutions like increasing the penalising power of EC for violation of non disclosure of information might make the situation better and why solution like public funding of election(nothing to prevent parties from resorting to under the board funding) would be ineffective.

The best part of the book is when it combines real world workings with informed and reasonable conclusions without taking any overt moral positions.

Milan Vaishnav rocks and his podcast grand Tamasha is also a must hear for people interested in ground workings of Indian politics without ideological bias.

[F V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Milan Vaishnav’s When Crime Pays is a life-changing exploration of the deeply entrenched relationship between democracy and power in India. With meticulous research and compelling narrative, the book unpacks one of the most paradoxical aspects of Indian politics: why voters continue to elect candidates with serious criminal records.

This groundbreaking book is not just an academic analysis—it is a reality check that forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the nature of representation, governance, and justice in the world’s largest democracy. Vaishnav draws on rich statistical data, first-hand interviews, and fieldwork to reveal how politicians use “muscle and money” not just to win elections but to reshape the very structures of accountability.

What makes this book transformative is its refusal to simplify. Vaishnav dives deep into the incentives and systemic conditions that make criminal politicians attractive to both political parties and the electorate. In doing so, he provides a nuanced and chilling portrait of democracy under stress.

Reading When Crime Pays is a book that should be required reading for students, policymakers, and citizens alike. It challenges assumptions, demands attention, and leaves the reader far more informed—and far less complacent.

[Abhishek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Corruption and money is the fuel for modern Indian politics will not come as a shocking revelation to anyone who has lived and or worked in India. I belong to the state of Bihar, where the example of this is perhaps most prominent.

What I really liked about this book though is the objective, structural approach and an almost academic bent with which the whole narrative was built from the beginning to end. Maybe, that might come across as a little bit dry reading in some sections, but overall taking the emotions away and focusing on the incentive structure of why this phenomena is successful and rewards your reading experience.

An urgent and I would go as far as a mandatory reading material for especially young voters in the country.

[Shanmugam Ramasamy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very unique perspective of why criminals thrive in Indian politics. Gives a good understanding of the ways to avoid this as well. The only downside was I felt the book could have been a little not concise. Nevertheless it's very evident the author has done a lot of ground work too come up with this book. The book can be summarized concisely as follows "Unless and until the state is seen as an impartial and credible provider of security, Justice and social and economic benefits there will always be spaces for those seeking to fill the gap between these institutions and popular expectations to make a living".

[Anant Saria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The extensive research and analysis behind the book is clearly reflected on its pages. The book will help you understand in depth the causes, implications, and history of criminalization of politics in India. You walk away with insights into the several interlinked factors that shape politics in the country. Although certain points repeatedly appear through the book, at no point is it without a cause or additional case and information. The book's insights will help you understand the problem and enable you think of possible solutions keeping in mind all factors at play with the matter.

[Nikhil Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a bit repitive, this book characterizes Indian politics and its practitioners in a manner that is bereft of ideology and filled with reality. He traces the varied links between criminals, corruption, businesses, social divisions, ethic tensions, lack of basic governance and weak rule of law - that interface voters and politicians.

Overall, it is an interesting thesis on what democracies in modern emerging countries have in store for citizens.

[Kongkan SAIKIA · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging read. The 'marketplace framework' helps clearly explain the relation between crime and politics in India. The suggested solutions might be a little too broad and long term in nature, but not entirely sure if there are any alternatives. Would have loved to see the trend of criminals politicians within some of the top political parties of India. But overall the book is quite insightful by combining statistics and ground level insights.

[Dev Kar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milan Vaishnav has written an excellent book, in fact a classic, on the role of dirty money in bankrolling India's politics. He uses data and hard evidence on specific politicians to illustrate the extent of criminalization of India's politics. And he does all this in a highly readable and interesting manner. I made significant references to his work in my forthcoming book India: Still A Shackled Giant to be published by Penguin Random House India in October 2019.

[Tarun Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a research book where author will specify the findings and the proofs for all the alligations on famous politicians.
Almost all the famous contemporary politician's dark side is mentioned in this book.
A good book for people who wants to do research and who wants to prepare for exams related to Crime and politics.

[Richeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book detailing the socio-political landscape of the country and its consequences in its elections.

I felt that the the editor could have done a better job structuring the book. There were points where the author was repeating himself repeatedly.

However the sheer comprehensiveness and detail of the study more than made up for the issues in editing.

[Nadiya Shaikh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well researched book explaining the growing crime-politics nexus in contemporary India. It is quite disturbing and I had moments where I would just scream loudly out of anger/shock but as a voter of India- you need to know what you need to know hence, you should read this!

[Ron Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid read. Understanding the crime in indian politics through the lens of a market place. Understanding demand and supply factors. In depth analysis steeped in contemporary history of the country. Enjoyed reading it thoroughly. Expanded my mind for sure

[Rehan Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written piece for deep insights into the Indian Political System and its unholy nexus with the criminal elements. Just some portions of the book feel a bit repetitive at times. But definitely worth the read !

[Prithvi Joshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tries to provide plausible answers to some of the deep rooted questions that plague Indian Politics. In my opinion, the book has excelled in identifying factors which are resulting in increased criminality in politics and is certainly a good read.

[Abhishek Indwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book full with data and statistics. Its an indepth book on how politics and crimanlity is linked in Indian politics.

[Satwik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a complete package. If you ever wondered about the current state of indian politics, you must read this. It also gives a historical perspective to the present day events.

[Manu S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely written book with detailed facts. I would have preferred more political stories than the author's explanation, but still it's a nice book.

[Niket Sheth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long. Too technical. Things became repetitive after a few chapters. This book could have easily been cut short by 100 pages

[Samra Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all about politicians and criminals who came in power to rule and started oppressing many people also includes corruption,punishment and laws ...
The book talks about the history of politics ,how and why criminal started taking interests in politics so to understand the whole thing give it a read cuz it's a well researched book which will definitely enlighten you with the whole concept.

And It is really a must read for everyone who's interested in understanding Indian politics.