Published Feb 16, 2026 | 6:55 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 16, 2026 | 6:55 PM
Kasaragod native K Mohammed. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Nonda had claimed in a Form 7 application that K Mohammed (55), a local daily wage labourer was not an Indian citizen. The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) found the allegation baseless after a 13 February hearing. Collector Inbasekar said Nonda’s action violated Section 31 of the Representation of the People act, 1950 which can carry up to one year in jail or a fine. Mohammed will remain on the electoral roll.
The Kasaragod district collector K. Inbasekar, on Monday, 16 February, ordered an FIR against BJP district secretary S. Lokesh Nonda for allegedly filing a false complaint to remove a voter from Manjeshwar Assembly constituency.
Nonda had claimed in a Form 7 application that K Mohammed (55), a local daily wage labourer was not an Indian citizen.
The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) found the allegation baseless after a 13 February hearing.
Collector Inbasekar said Nonda’s action violated Section 31 of the Representation of the People act, 1950 which can carry up to one year in jail or a fine. Mohammed will remain on the electoral roll.
However, Manjeshwar police told South First that the Collector’s written order has not yet reached the station, once it does they will register the FIR and initiate legal action.
The move follows IUML MLA AKM Ashraf’s plan to approach Kerala High Court demanding action against Nonda. Nonda had also filed six other Form 7 applications targeting Muslim women all of which were dismissed.
Manjeshwar, a constituency along the Kerala–Karnataka border has seen a surge in fresh voter registrations during the SIR.
The IUML reportedly added around 14,000 new names while the BJP added about 3,400.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
