FIR Filed Against Ex-BJP MLA Yatnal for Voter Fraud in Karnataka
Basanagouda Patil Yatnal faces allegations of forging documents to remove voters from the electoral roll in Bijapur.
Yatnal accused of creating false death certificates to delete voters.
Multiple FIRs filed against Yatnal and associates for voter fraud.
Complaints highlight misuse of electoral processes during revision.
In a significant development in Karnataka, an FIR has been lodged against Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, a former BJP MLA from Bijapur City. The Jal Nagar police initiated the case following allegations that Yatnal conspired to remove voters from the electoral roll by fabricating death certificates. The complaint was filed by Abdul Razak Bhagawan, a local resident, who claimed that Yatnal and a booth-level agent attempted to falsely declare him deceased to facilitate the deletion of his name from the voter list.
The complaint details that on September 3, Yatnal and his associate submitted a Form 7 to the Vijayapura City Corporation, asserting that Bhagawan was dead and should be removed from the electoral rolls. Bhagawan, who is a vegetable vendor and holds a valid EPIC card, expressed his outrage, stating that legal action should be taken against Yatnal and the booth-level agent for their fraudulent activities. This incident is part of a broader Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise currently underway in the state.
In addition to Bhagawan's complaint, three women from Vijayapura have also accused Yatnal of falsely declaring them deceased in an attempt to erase their names from the electoral rolls. They have called for criminal charges against him, further complicating the situation for the former MLA. The allegations raise serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in the region.
Moreover, another FIR was filed at the Gandhi Chowk police station by Javed Indikar, who accused Girish Patil, a BJP corporator and Yatnal's close associate, of similar fraudulent activities. Indikar alleged that Patil submitted a Form 7 to remove his name from the electoral roll by falsely claiming he had permanently moved out of his locality. This pattern of alleged misconduct points to a troubling misuse of electoral processes by political figures in Karnataka.
As the situation unfolds, the implications for Yatnal and his associates could be severe, with potential legal consequences looming. The Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer has directed action against fraudulent voter-deletion applications, emphasizing the need for integrity in the electoral process. The upcoming days will likely see further developments as investigations proceed and more individuals come forward with complaints.
