The Karnataka High Court has put criminal proceedings against two BJP booth-level agents on hold in cases concerning applications to delete voters’ names from electoral rolls in Bengaluru’s Malleshwaram constituency. The Court questioned the timing of the police investigation, noting that the designated electoral authority had not yet decided the disputed applications.
Justice Anant Ramanath Hegde granted interim relief to the petitioners, G.S. Vasanthalakshmi and Deepak Singh R, while hearing their separate challenges to the FIRs.
Background
The cases arose during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. One FIR, registered at Vyalikaval police station, concerned applications seeking deletion of 778 voters’ names in Ward No. 64. The other, registered at Yeshwanthapura police station, related to 136 objections concerning voters in Ward No. 45.
The complaints alleged that the applications targeted voters who continued to reside in the constituency. They also raised concerns about signatures on the forms and the possibility that incorrect information had been submitted. The petitioners disputed the basis of the criminal proceedings.
Senior Advocate M. Aruna Shyam, appearing for the petitioners, argued that electoral authorities were responsible for examining Form 7 objections and deciding whether a voter’s name should remain on the electoral roll. According to the petitioners, the complaints had triggered criminal proceedings before that statutory process had reached a decision.
The petitioners also relied on the legal framework governing electoral registration, arguing that alleged false declarations should be addressed through the mechanisms prescribed under election law.
Additional State Public Prosecutor Anoop Kumar opposed the petitions, submitting that the allegations of impersonation and forged signatures required investigation. He also raised concerns about the volume of applications filed.
Advocate Shatabish Shivanna, representing the complainant, alleged that the applications were part of an organised attempt to target voters from particular communities, including OBCs and members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
During the hearing, the Court focused on the fact that the electoral registration authorities had not yet ruled on the disputed applications. It questioned whether the filing of objections through the prescribed electoral process, before their acceptance or rejection, provided a sufficient basis for initiating a criminal investigation.
The Court also considered the petitioners’ status as authorised political party agents and the role assigned to electoral officials in scrutinising objections to voter registration.
Finding that the competent authority had not yet decided the Form 7 applications, the High Court stayed the criminal proceedings against both petitioners until the next hearing. The respondents were permitted to apply for modification or vacation of the interim order.
The matter was listed for further hearing on October 27, 2026.
Case Details:
Case Title: G.S. Vasanthalakshmi v. State of Karnataka & Ors & Deepak Singh R v. State of Karnataka & Ors
Case Number: W.P. No. 31887 of 2026 & W.P. No. 31893 of 2026
Judge: Justice Anant Ramanath Hegde
