Indian cricket star Mohammed Shami has been granted a rescheduling of his voter verification hearing by election officials in Kolkata after the fast bowler informed them of prior professional commitments. The hearing, part of a statewide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, will now take place between January 9 and 11.
Why Was Shami Called for the Hearing?
The cricketer, along with his brother Mohammed Kaif, was originally summoned to appear on Monday at a school in Jadavpur. The notice was issued after officials from the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer’s office found discrepancies in the Enumeration Form submitted by the duo. An official stated that the form was incorrectly filled out, necessitating the personal hearing for verification.
Shami, who is currently in Rajkot representing Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy domestic tournament, could not attend the initial date. Following his request, the Election Commission agreed to provide fresh dates for the proceeding.
Shami's Kolkata Voter Connection
Officials confirmed that Mohammed Shami is a registered voter of Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s Ward 93, which falls under the Rashbehari assembly constituency. Although originally from Uttar Pradesh, Shami moved to Kolkata at a young age to pursue cricket. He trained under former Bengal Ranji captain Sambaran Bandyopadhyay and later earned his place in Bengal’s under-22 team, establishing his long-term connection with the city.
Celebrities Under Scrutiny in Voter Roll Clean-Up
This development is part of a broader Special Intensive Revision exercise underway in West Bengal, designed to correct voter records and ensure accuracy. The process has placed several celebrities on the same footing as ordinary voters, with hearing notices being issued to them as well.
Apart from Shami, other notable figures like actor and Trinamool Congress MP Dev, and actor couple Laboni Sarkar and Kaushik Bandyopadhyay, have also been called or identified during this verification drive. Election officials emphasize that all voters, including public figures, are required to comply with the process to maintain the integrity of the electoral roll.
The rescheduling of Shami's hearing underscores the Election Commission's effort to balance strict enforcement of rules with reasonable accommodation for genuine professional obligations, ensuring no voter is disenfranchised due to procedural issues.
