Published Oct 05, 2026 | 6:09 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 05, 2026 | 6:09 PM
The direction follows reports of bulk Form 7 applications seeking the deletion of eligible Muslim voters from the electoral rolls.
Synopsis: Telangana Chief Electoral Officer C Sudharshan Reddy has directed electoral registration officers to act against applicants who knowingly have made false declarations in Forms 6, 6A, 7 and 8 during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The move follows reports of bulk Form 7 applications seeking the deletion of eligible Muslim voters in Musheerabad, Bahadurpura and Goshamahal, using pre-filled forms with applicant details left blank. Separately, the Telangana Congress has asked the Hyderabad Police Commissioner to register an FIR and form an SIT to investigate the filings.
The Telangana Chief Electoral Officer C Sudharshan Reddy has directed electoral registration officers (EROs) to take action against anyone found to have knowingly made false statements or declarations in Forms 6, 6A, 7 and 8 during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
In a memo issued on 5 October, the CEO directed them to act against such applicants under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. The direction follows reports of bulk Form 7 applications seeking the deletion of eligible Muslim voters from the electoral rolls.
The CEO’s office said it had received information about instances of bulk Form 7 applications being filed before EROs and allegations that some of the forms were not genuine. Form 7 is used to object to the inclusion of a name in an electoral roll or seek deletion of a name.
The Congress had first raised the issue in Musheerabad on 1 October, alleging that more than 30 Form 7 applications seeking deletion of members of a Muslim family had been filed by a BJP booth-level agent. Subsequently, more such applications were found in Bahadurpura and Goshamahal.
One such form seen by South First had the voter’s name and address pre-filled while the applicant’s details were blank.
The direction came on the same day that the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) asked the Hyderabad Police Commissioner to register an FIR and constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the bulk filing of pre-filled Form 7 applications.
Pulipati Rajesh Kumar, chairman of the TPCC Election Commission Coordination Committee, submitted the complaint on 5 October.
The Congress alleged that the forms had been printed in advance and asked the police to establish whether the persons named as applicants had actually signed them or even knew about the applications.
In the complaint to the Hyderabad Police Commissioner, Rajesh Kumar sought an investigation into whether the forms found in the three constituencies came from a common source, used a common format or were prepared from a common database.
He also cited allegations that the BJP’s State office had prepared the forms and distributed them to Assembly constituency in-charges and local booth-level agents. The Congress has sought an inquiry into the role of BJP State president N Ramchander Rao if that allegation is established.
The party has asked the police to seize the original forms, conduct forensic examination of signatures and handwriting, preserve records held by electoral officials, and collect relevant CCTV footage and call records. It has also sought verification of whether similar forms were circulated or submitted elsewhere in Telangana.
Rajesh Kumar said the Hyderabad Police Commissioner had assured him that he would study the matter and take action.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
