Abdul Razak Bagwan, a vegetable vendor in Karnataka’s Vijayapura, was shocked to discover he had been declared dead and that a death certificate was allegedly used to remove his name from the electoral roll.
He told police he knew of at least seven other people similarly shown as dead based on documents submitted by expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and lawmaker Basanagouda Patil Yatnal for voter removal during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).
Three women publicly displayed their identity documents and copies of the certificates on Wednesday, demanding criminal action against those responsible,” said a police officer. The ninth case followed an inquiry into the documents submitted for the voter removal. “Eight people, including Bagwan, came forward to say they are alive after their names were linked to death certificates. He has remained a prominent critic of the party leadership. Yatnal did not respond to repeated calls for comments. The details of eight other first information reports (FIRs) showed that none were initiated by an Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), creating a gap between police investigations and action under the electoral law governing false declarations. Police can investigate other alleged criminal offences independently.
Raziya Sheikh, who has lived in Vijayapura for nearly 30 years, said a death certificate was also submitted in her name. Yatnal, a former minister, was expelled from the BJP for six years in March 2025 over indiscipline. The Election Commission of India (ECI) this month directed Karnataka’s election officials to examine false Form 7 applications and take legal action where required. Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, makes knowingly making a false statement or declaration during the preparation, revision or correction of electoral rolls a punishable offence, carrying up to one year in jail, a fine, or both. People aware of the matter said an ECI or ERO complaint is not a blanket legal requirement for every FIR arising from a Form 7 dispute. Karnataka home minister Priyank Kharge warned that those who provide false information to the ECI through Form 7 could face imprisonment for one year. He accused BJP workers of submitting Form 7 applications claiming that people have died.
“I am worried that I may lose my ration card and other government benefits,” Sheikh said.
