A Sessions Court in Karnataka’s Belagavi has granted anticipatory bail to BJP leader Dr Ravi Basalingappagowda Patil in a case involving allegations of fraudulent deletion of Muslim voters from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.
Judge Gangadhara K.N. granted pre arrest bail to Patil, observing that merely submitting Form 7 does not automatically lead to deletion of a voter’s name, as election authorities are required to conduct their own inquiry and verification.
Court Says Election Authorities Must Verify Form 7 Applications
The court noted that the alleged Form 7 applications were already with the Booth Level Officer attached to the election section of the Belagavi Mahanagar Palike.
“Firstly, if at all the present petitioner and others have submitted a created Form No.7, they are already with the BLO attached to the election section of the Belagavi Mahanagar Palike,” the court said.
It added that the case was based on documentary evidence and that the election authorities would not automatically act on the submission of Form 7 applications.
“They will do their own enquiry, verification,” the court observed.
The court also noted that the alleged incident took place on September 26, while the complaint was filed on October 1. It said the election authority, rather than persons belonging to a particular political party, would have to dispute the authenticity of the documents.
Police Allegation of 198 Fake Form 7 Applications
According to police, a block agent of an opposing political party alleged that Patil and others had submitted around 198 fabricated Form 7 applications to the Booth Level Officer.
The complaint alleged that the applications were submitted with the intention of removing Muslim voters from the electoral rolls.
According to the complaint, the 198 voters were still residing at the addresses listed in the electoral rolls. It alleged that the accused deliberately submitted Form 7 applications seeking their deletion.
Based on the complaint, the Station House Officer of Market Police Station in Belagavi registered the case and issued Patil a notice under Section 35(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
Patil has been booked under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 318(4), 336(3), 336(4), 353, 61(2), 3(5), 3(7), 192 read with Section 190.
Patil Denies Allegations
Before the court, Patil argued that he is a doctor from a respectable family and had no connection with the alleged offences.
He also assured the court that he would cooperate with the investigation. His counsel argued that his arrest could cause serious and irreparable damage to his reputation.
The court noted that although the alleged offences are non bailable, they do not carry the punishment of death or life imprisonment.
It consequently found that Patil had made out a prima facie case for pre arrest bail.
The court directed Patil to execute a bail bond of Rs 50,000 along with one surety for the same amount.
Advocate R.G. Patil appeared for the petitioner.
