Kolkata BJP Leader Arrested for Alleged Electoral Roll Manipulation
In a significant development concerning electoral integrity, the Kolkata Police on Thursday apprehended a 64-year-old woman from Behala. The arrest was made on charges of submitting an incorrect Form 7 with the alleged intention of cheating genuine voters. The individual in question holds the position of BJP South Kolkata district vice president and resides on Gopal Mishra Road.
Court Grants Bail, Questions Police Case Diary
Following her arrest, a city court granted bail to the accused. In its ruling, the court explicitly stated that it was "not convinced with the case diary" presented by the prosecution. The judicial order further criticized the application of multiple penal sections, including several non-bailable ones, characterizing it as potentially "an example of high-handedness of police administration."
The court emphasized that while a mini-trial is not permissible during bail hearings, after reviewing the case diary and the FIR, it found the prayer for police custody unconvincing. It noted the accused's age of 64 years made her eligible for benefits under section 480(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in the context of this case.
Understanding Form 7 and the Allegations
Form 7 is a crucial document in the Indian electoral process. It allows any voter within an assembly segment to raise objections regarding the electoral roll. Specifically, a voter can use this form to:
- Object to the inclusion of a name they believe should not be on the roll.
- Seek the deletion of a voter's name, typically on grounds of absence from the residence or death.
Standard procedure dictates that election officials must call the person against whom a Form 7 complaint is filed for a hearing on two separate occasions before any action to strike off the name is taken. While there are no strict rules for the complainant, officials retain the authority to question or summon anyone if they suspect the validity of a claim.
Details of the Police Complaint and Investigation
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Behala) Rahul De, the case originated from a complaint filed by Sudip Kumar Ojha, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) for the Behala West Assembly constituency. An FIR was registered at the Parnasree Police Station based on this complaint.
The FIR alleges that the accused, identified as Mukherjee, lodged an objection against the voter ID of a resident from Behala belonging to a minority community. Crucially, the complaint states that Mukherjee "intentionally repeatedly remained absent in multiple hearing calls" because she allegedly possessed no documents to support her objection.
The ERO's complaint further contended that by submitting this objection and then avoiding the hearings, Mukherjee made a false claim against a bona fide citizen. The aim, as alleged, was to "vitiate the SIR 2026 process"—a reference to the ongoing summary revision of the electoral roll. A copy of this plaint is reportedly with The Times of India.
Police officials elaborated that the objection was filed against an individual named Pintu Sk. When repeatedly asked to furnish details and appear for hearings to substantiate her claim, Mukherjee failed to comply. Based on her non-appearance and the ERO's assertion that the objection was a false claim intended to disrupt the electoral revision, Parnasree police registered the FIR under multiple penal sections of the law.
This case highlights the delicate balance between ensuring electoral purity and safeguarding individuals from potential overreach, with the court's bail order bringing judicial scrutiny to the police's investigative approach in this politically sensitive matter.
