A BJP delegation led by B.S. Yediyurappa met the police chief on October 3. They urged him to stop filing FIRs against party workers over Form 7 applications. R. Ashok warned, "If police officers misuse their power, they will have to regret it later." The party claims the process is legal.
A BJP delegation led by former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa, State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok and Leader of Opposition in the Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy met the Director General and Inspector General of Police on October 3, urging him to ensure that FIRs registered in connection with Form 7 applications during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls be dealt with strictly according to the law.
In a memorandum, the delegation alleged that criminal cases were being registered against BJP workers and political activists for submitting Form 7 objections, and that the police machinery was being subjected to political pressure.
Statutory mechanism
The BJP said Form 7 is a statutory mechanism provided by the Election Commission of India for electors to object to inclusion of names or seek deletion of existing entries from electoral rolls. It argued that the mere filing of multiple or bulk Form 7 applications cannot, by itself, constitute a criminal offence.
The delegation referred to FIRs reportedly registered in Bhalki in Bidar, Belagavi and Narasimharaja in Mysuru, involving provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. It said any criminal liability must be established on the basis of evidence showing individual involvement, including whether an applicant knowingly furnished false information or forged documents.
The BJP also cited provisions in the SIR guidelines and the Manual on Electoral Rolls, 2023, claiming that there is no prescribed limit on the number of Form 7 applications that can be submitted and that objections are subject to verification by election officials.
The delegation further raised concern over the alleged circulation of Form 7 applications containing applicants' names, mobile numbers and signatures on social media, and sought an inquiry into the source of the disclosure.
The BJP urged the DGP to ensure that police action remains politically neutral and that any genuine violations are proceeded against strictly according to law and due process.
Warning by Leader of Opposition
Speaking after submitting the memorandum, Mr. Ashok warned, "If police officers misuse their power, they will have to regret it later. An NDA government is going to come to power in the state. Then we will settle accounts with the police officers."