Full Breakdown
Karnataka SIR Controversy: Alleged Bulk Voter Deletions and Fake Death Certificates
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Core Event – Allegations of Mass Form 7 Filings and Fake Death Certificates
The Congress-led government in Karnataka, headed by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, has accused BJP workers of a large-scale operation to delete voters from the draft electoral rolls released after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). Nine FIRs have been lodged in Ballari, Bengaluru, Bidar, Belagavi, Chikamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru, Vijayapura and Udupi districts alleging that pre-printed Form 7 applications were filed in bulk to remove names. Police have also registered FIRs against BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and a local corporator for submitting false death certificates to delete living voters in Vijayapura.
Background & Context
Form 7 is the statutory request to delete a name from the electoral roll. The SIR exercise, conducted after the draft rolls are published, allows voters or officials to raise objections. An EC communique dated January 16, 2026 states that there is no prohibition on filing bulk Form 7 applications. The controversy echoes the Aland case in Kalaburagi district, where a 2023 investigation led to a chargesheet against former BJP MLA Subhash Guttedar for using an OTP-bypass service to submit unauthorized deletions.
Official Statements & Responses
- Shivakumar described the alleged bulk filings as “a big criminal conspiracy” and urged investigation into who supplied the pre-printed forms.
- V Anbukumar emphasized that no voter has been deleted on the basis of the applications and that Electoral Registration Officers must verify identities before any action.
- A memorandum from the BJP and JD(S) argues that the EC’s 2026 communique permits bulk filings and accuses the ruling party of misusing police to intimidate objectors.
Criticism & Opposition
BJP and JD(S) leaders have filed a memorandum with Governor Thawarchand Gehlot and the Karnataka CEO, alleging that the Congress government is “misusing the state police machinery” by registering false criminal cases against individuals who lodged objections. They cite the EC’s 2026 communique to contend that bulk Form 7 submissions are lawful.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Abdul Razak Bagwan, a vegetable vendor, reported that a false death certificate was used to declare him deceased and attempt removal from the roll.
- Eight Muslim women from Vijayapura displayed identity documents and copies of death certificates, asserting they were wrongly marked as deceased.
- Activist Prakash Raj and the group Jagrutha Karnataka have highlighted these cases in press meetings and rallies.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The ruling party cites the volume of applications and alleged pre-printed forms as evidence of a coordinated conspiracy, while the BJP/JD(S) memorandum maintains that bulk filings are permitted and that no illegality is involved.
- No public data confirm whether the alleged automated generation of Form 7 applications, mentioned in some FIR preliminaries, is technically feasible.
What’s Next
State officials are considering the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the interlinkage of the nine FIRs. The Cockroach Janta Party plans a “People’s Tribunal” on October 8 in Bengaluru and a protest at Jantar Mantar on October 10, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.