Fresh FIRs over alleged forged documents in Pakur, alongside questions over bulk voter-deletion applications in Godda, have brought the verification process into sharper focus—with authorities now facing the task of protecting the rolls from manipulation without excluding genuine voters.

The objective of the SIR was to ensure that no eligible Indian citizen was left out of the electoral rolls and that no ineligible or foreign person was included in them.

FIRs Follow Physical Verification

An FIR has been registered against four people in Barharwa block of Pakur for allegedly attempting to secure inclusion in the electoral rolls using forged residential certificates. A separate FIR has been filed against a Common Service Centre operator accused of preparing and supplying the documents.

The action followed a four-day visit to Santhal Pargana by Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar to examine complaints and suspected cases linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

CEO Inspects Suspected Cases

In Ahut village, Kumar personally visited the residences of Rubeida Bewa, Rabi Sheikh, Pintu Sheikh and Sentu Sheikh and examined their electoral-registration records and submitted documents. Officials were directed to conduct detailed verification of each case before the FIRs were registered.

The CEO said strict legal action should follow where investigations establish deliberate use of forged or incorrect documents, including against those facilitating such attempts.

Godda Raises a Different Question

The scrutiny also extends to the deletion side of the electoral roll. An Indian Express investigation in Godda found bulk Form 7 applications seeking voter deletions, with most targeted names belonging to Muslims. At least four Booth Level Officers flagged the applications as procedurally suspect. Some voters were found to have lived in their villages for generations and had also been verified during the 2003 intensive revision.

Following the investigation, district election authorities sought a report and initiated an inquiry into applications at Booth No. 9 in Maheshtikri village.

The Test Is Accuracy on Both Sides

The SIR’s stated objective is twofold: ensuring every eligible citizen remains on the rolls while preventing ineligible or foreign persons from entering them. The credibility of the exercise will ultimately depend on whether both objectives are pursued with the same rigour—through transparent verification, due process and impartial scrutiny.

 Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jharkhand-voter-list-sir-fir-pakur-godda-probe-indianexpress-investigation-10864852/