HYDERABAD: A BJP booth-level agent and others were booked by the Chikkadpally police on Tuesday for allegedly attempting to delete 30 Muslim voters from the electoral rolls in Musheerabad assembly constituency through pre-printed Form-7 applications. The action follows a verification exercise by election officials, who found all 30 electors residing at the addresses recorded in the voter list.The case was registered based on a complaint filed by T Praveen Kumar, electoral registration officer (ERO) of Musheerabad constituency and deputy commissioner of Circle 41. Police booked BJP booth-level agent S Balachander and others under Sections 217 and 318(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.According to the complaint, Balachander brought 30 digitally pre-printed Form-7 applications, signed by him, to polling station No. 210 on Sept 28. The ERO alleged that he sought deletion of electors who had no connection with him and did so with mala fide intent.The booth-level officer (BLO) and the polling station supervisor reportedly refused to accept the applications despite repeated requests and did not issue any acknowledgement. Balachander allegedly left the forms at the polling station and left the premises.Subsequently, the BLO and supervisor conducted field verification on Sept 30 and submitted their findings. On Oct 1, they were joined by the assistant ERO and ERO in verifying the details of all 30 voters.Officials found that 14 electors were registered at one address and 16 at another. During the verification exercise, all 30 electors were found residing at the recorded addresses. Based on the findings, election officials concluded that the Form-7 applications were not maintainable and were liable to be rejected.Cong seeks wider probeTPCC Election Commission coordination committee chairperson Pulipati Rajesh Kumar said the verification had vindicated the complaint earlier submitted by the Congress to the chief electoral officer.Describing Balachander as a “scapegoat”, he demanded a wider inquiry into those responsible for collecting voter data and printing and supplying the applications. He alleged that a larger conspiracy could be involved and called for the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the matter, including the role of senior BJP leaders.The FIR comes amid an ongoing controversy over Form-7 applications submitted during Telangana’s special intensive revision of electoral rolls.CEO C Sudharshan Reddy had earlier said that disputed Form-7 applications submitted in Musheerabad and Goshamahal constituencies had been rejected.On Oct 5, the CEO directed officials to initiate action against persons found to have knowingly made false electoral declarations, subject to an inquiry establishing such violations.
