SIR Notice to Amartya Sen? Abhishek Banerjee Attacks Election Commission Over Bengal “Targeting” Claims

A fresh political storm has erupted in West Bengal after Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee claimed that Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen has been issued a notice by the Election Commission of India under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Addressing a public rally, Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the poll body is selectively targeting prominent citizens from West Bengal in the name of voter verification, calling the reported notice to Amartya Sen “sad” and deeply concerning. He claimed that the development reflected a broader pattern of harassment under what he described as a “BJP–ECI nexus”.

According to Banerjee, the alleged notice to Sen comes after similar SIR summons were issued to Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami and actor-politician Dev, suggesting that the exercise is being used to discredit well-known figures associated with Bengal.

“This is extremely unfortunate. Amartya Sen is the pride of this nation. He brought global recognition to India through his scholarship. Mohammed Shami played for India on the world stage. Dev is a respected public representative. What is happening in the name of SIR is nothing but targeted harassment,” Abhishek Banerjee said.

No Official Confirmation From Election Commission

As of now, the Election Commission has not issued any official confirmation or denial regarding Abhishek Banerjee’s claim that Amartya Sen has received a notice. The absence of a formal statement has further fuelled political speculation, with the TMC demanding transparency from the poll body.

Abhishek Banerjee questioned how a globally respected intellectual like Sen could be asked to appear for a voter verification hearing. He argued that such actions undermine the credibility of democratic institutions and send a disturbing signal about the treatment of eminent citizens.

SIR Notices to Public Figures Add to Row

The controversy comes amid a series of SIR notices issued to prominent individuals in West Bengal. Actor and three-time MP Dev, whose real name is Deepak Adhikari, has been summoned along with three members of his family. Dev represents the Ghatal parliamentary constituency and is a permanent resident of South Kolkata.

Sources indicated that Dev and his family were asked to appear at a designated hearing centre and submit supporting documents related to their electoral records. The exact reason for the notice has not been officially clarified.

Several other figures from the Bengali film industry have also reportedly received SIR notices, including actor Anirban Bhattacharya and actor couple Kaushik Banerjee and Laboni Sarkar. In some cases, the notices were reportedly linked to gaps or inconsistencies in older documentation submitted during enumeration.

Mohammed Shami Case Cited Again

Earlier, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami and his brother Mohammed Kaif were summoned for SIR hearings in south Kolkata. Shami, who is currently representing Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, was granted revised dates to appear due to his cricketing commitments.

Election Commission sources had said that Shami’s case involved discrepancies in enumeration forms related to family mapping details. Although Shami was born in Uttar Pradesh, he has been a long-time resident of Kolkata and is enrolled as a voter in the Rashbehari Assembly constituency.

Political Battle Intensifies in Bengal

The TMC has framed the SIR exercise as politically motivated, alleging that it disproportionately affects Bengal residents and prominent personalities. Party leaders argue that the process is being weaponised ahead of crucial political developments in the state.

Opposition parties, however, maintain that voter roll verification is a routine democratic exercise and should not be politicised. They argue that all citizens, irrespective of stature, are subject to the same electoral laws.

With no clarification yet from the Election Commission on the specific claim involving Amartya Sen, the issue continues to escalate. The episode has once again placed the spotlight on the SIR process, raising broader questions about transparency, consistency, and public trust in electoral administration.