Jharkhand SIR Fake Documents: An FIR has been filed against four people in Jharkhand’s Pakur district for allegedly using forged residential certificates to get their names added to the voter list. A Common Service Centre (CSC) operator has also been booked for allegedly helping prepare the documents.
The case came up during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. According to The Indian Express, Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar was in Santhal Pargana for four days to check complaints and suspected problems linked to the voter list revision.
Jharkhand’s Big Coal Mine Revamp: Closed Mines to Become New Economic Assets
Four People Named in Pakur case
The incident was reported from Barharwa block in Pakur district. The four people named in the case are Rubeida Bewa, Rabi Sheikh, Pintu Sheikh and Sentu Sheikh. They’re accused of submitting residential certificates that officials described as forged.
Police have also registered a separate FIR against Mohammad Salim. He works as an operator at a Common Service Centre and is accused of preparing and giving the certificates to the four applicants.
During his visit to the area, Kumar went to Ahut village and checked the homes of the people involved. He also looked at their voter registration records and the documents that had been submitted.
After checking the cases, he asked election officials to carry out a detailed verification. The FIRs were registered after this process.
Election Officer Orders Strict Action
Kumar has told officials to take legal action against anyone who tries to enter the electoral rolls with fake documents. He also said action should be taken against people who help others in such attempts.
Jharkhand Swine Flu Alert: 8 H1N1 Cases Reported, Hospitals Told to Stay Prepared
“The accuracy and credibility of the electoral rolls cannot be compromised,” Kumar said.
He also explained the main purpose of the SIR exercise. “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.”
The CEO said complaints connected to the voter list must be checked fairly. He said each serious complaint should be investigated properly so that the election process remains transparent and the voter list stays reliable.
He further said, “If an investigation establishes that a person deliberately submitted incorrect or forged documents, action should be taken under the applicable legal provisions.”
Jharkhand’s election authorities had already warned in June that people involved in making or using fake certificates for the SIR could face legal action. The CEO had also directed district officials to act quickly when such cases were reported.
Godda Voter Deletion issue also Under Probe
The latest case comes at a time when the SIR process in Jharkhand is facing questions over other voter-list complaints.
According to The Indian Express, an earlier investigation in Godda found several Form 7 applications seeking deletion of voters’ names. Many of the names were from the Muslim community. Booth Level Officers at four booths had raised concerns about whether the applications were genuine and properly submitted.
At Booth No. 9 in Maheshtikri village, 25 such applications were reportedly submitted against voters. Election authorities later ordered an inquiry into the matter. The Basantrai Block Development Officer said officials were sent to the village for field verification.
