BJP leader receives interim bail in Form-7 electoral-roll case
A Belagavi court has granted conditional interim bail to BJP leader Ravi Patil, who faces allegations of using Form-7 applications to seek deletion of about 198 Muslim voters’ names. The court said election officials independently verify such applications and noted that the case was based on documents already available to investigators.
A local court in Belagavi has granted conditional interim bail to BJP leader Ravi Patil, who is accused of misusing Form-7 applications to seek deletion of the names of Muslim voters from electoral rolls. Police registered a case against Patil at Belagavi Market Police Station after allegations that applications were submitted to remove about 198 Muslim voters from Veerabhadra Nagar during a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Aman Sait, a young Congress leader, reportedly obtained the forms from two people employed at Patil’s hospital and complained to the district election officer.
Booth Level Agent Meerasab Sanadi later filed a police complaint against Patil, two employees and 20 unidentified people. Patil appeared before an investigating officer on Sunday after approaching the Second Additional District and Sessions Court. Judge Gangadhar K.N.
granted interim bail against a bond of ₹50,000 and a surety for the same amount. The conditions require Patil not to tamper with evidence or intimidate witnesses. He must appear before investigating officers when summoned and must not engage in criminal activity.
The court observed that the submission of a Form-7 application does not automatically result in deletion or retention of a voter’s name. Election officials conduct an independent inquiry and verification before making a decision, the court said. The judge also noted that the case was document-based and that the relevant applications were already with the Booth Level Officer.
The court said election officials were not affiliated with any particular political party. It granted bail after considering that an arrest could damage Patil’s reputation and social standing.
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