Kolkata, April 22 (IANS): Along with his assets, the number of criminal cases pending against union minister and West Bengal state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury - fighting to retain his Baharampur Lok Sabha seat - have multiplied manifold over the past five years.

According to his affidavit submitted as part of the nomination filing process, Chowdhury's assets have soared from over Rs.74 lakh in 2009 to over Rs.5 crore while criminal cases against him have risen to 16 from just three during the same period.

Chowdhury, accused of a number of offences, including murder, has six cases against him in which the court has framed charges while it has taken cognisance in 10 other pending cases.

While his annual income for 2012-13 was more than Rs.11.28 lakh, minister of state for railways Chowdhury possesses moveable assets worth over Rs.1.12 crore.

Besides 200 grams of gold worth Rs.5 lakh, his moveable properties include advances to others in excess of Rs.80 lakh.

The total current value of his immoveable assets, all of which are self acquired, stand at Rs.4.07 crore.

His immoveable assets include three non-agricultural lands with total current value of Rs.2.74 crore, a 180 square feet commercial building currently valued at Rs.15 lakh and two residential buildings valued at Rs.98 lakh. He has also made some investments to the properties by way of constructions.

His wife Arpita with an annual income for 2012-13 in excess of Rs.6.19 lakh owns over Rs.2 crore worth of moveable assets.