Karnataka SIR Row: Shivakumar Seeks Criminal Probe Into Alleged Form 7 Misuse

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has sought a criminal probe into the alleged misuse of Form 7 to seek deletion of voters’ names during the currently ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Shivakumar alleged that BJP leaders and workers were submitting Form 7 applications, purportedly at the direction of leaders, to seek deletion of names of minorities, poor people and Dalits. He said Congress leaders had provided documents relating to allegedly fraudulent applications in their constituencies.

He cited Bhalki, Mudigere and Narasimharaja among constituencies where such complaints had been reported. Shivakumar said the issue was not confined to a few constituencies and urged Booth Level Agents, BLA-2s, legislators, party workers and voters to share details of suspected Form 7 applications with his office.

He said he would meet election officials and place documents and other information collected statewide before them. He also asked for constituency-wise information on Form 7 objections and scrutiny of alleged bulk applications.

The allegations come as Karnataka’s SIR exercise moves through the claims and objections process. The state had 5.54 crore electors in the June 16 roll, while the August 24 draft roll contained about 4.46 crore electors. Officials have clarified that voters placed in absent, shifted, dead, duplicate or other categories are not automatically deleted without the prescribed verification and proceedings.

As of September 25, election authorities had received and processed 61,130 Form 7 applications seeking deletion of names. The CEO’s office had generated 43,82,296 notices for voters placed in the “No Mapping” and “Anomalies” categories, of which 41,63,368 had been delivered. Officials said 28,80,882 hearings had been completed, with 12,82,486 pending.

The Form 7 figures have also shown a discrepancy. Data for the August 24 draft roll recorded 67,307 applications, while figures shared by the CEO’s office on September 25 put the number at 61,130, with the difference requiring verification.

Shivakumar urged voters and party functionaries to report suspected applications so the matter could be taken up with the Election Commission.