Mohammed Shami, Brother Summoned for SIR Hearing in Kolkata Over Voter Roll Discrepancies

Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami and his brother, Mohammed Kaif, have been summoned by the Election Commission of India for a hearing under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The development has drawn attention as the revision exercise itself has become a politically sensitive issue in the state.

Notices were issued from Kartju Nagar School in the Jadavpur area of south Kolkata, directing both individuals to appear before the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO). According to election authorities, the summons were issued after discrepancies were detected in their enumeration forms during the SIR process, which began on December 16 last year.

Reason Behind the Summons

Election Commission sources said the names of Mohammed Shami and his brother surfaced during routine scrutiny due to inconsistencies linked to progeny mapping and self-mapping in their voter records. These technical discrepancies typically arise when family linkages, address continuity or identity details do not align perfectly with existing electoral data.

Officials clarified that such hearings are procedural in nature and aim to verify records to ensure accuracy in the voter rolls. The SIR exercise is intended to clean and update electoral data by addressing duplications, errors and outdated entries.

Shami Unable to Attend Initial Hearing

Shami could not attend the initially scheduled hearing as he is currently representing Bengal in Rajkot in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Authorities have now rescheduled his appearance, with the hearing expected to take place between January 9 and January 11.

Although born in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, Shami has been a permanent resident of Kolkata for several years. He is enrolled as a voter in Kolkata Municipal Corporation Ward No. 93, which falls under the Rashbehari Assembly constituency. His brother is also registered in the same electoral jurisdiction.

Election officials emphasised that residency in a different state from one’s place of birth does not pose an issue, provided documentation and mapping details are correctly recorded.

Political Context Around SIR in West Bengal

The SIR exercise has sparked controversy in West Bengal, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raising objections to the manner in which the revision is being conducted. In a letter addressed to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Banerjee questioned the clarity, transparency and uniformity of the process.

She alleged that timelines and criteria varied across states and warned that errors or ambiguities in the revision process could potentially lead to the disenfranchisement of genuine voters. The state’s ruling party has repeatedly accused the poll body of conducting the exercise in a rushed and opaque manner.

Election officials, however, maintain that the SIR process follows established procedures and that hearings are being conducted to safeguard electoral integrity rather than exclude eligible voters.

What Happens Next

Authorities said Shami’s case will be resolved once documentation is verified and discrepancies, if any, are clarified. No adverse action is expected if records are found to be in order.

The case highlights how even high-profile individuals are subject to routine electoral verification during large-scale voter roll revision exercises. The Election Commission has reiterated that the SIR process is administrative, not punitive, and applies uniformly to all registered voters.