‘Raees Ali’ for ‘Faizan Khan’: 10,470 voter names changed in one UP seat, FIR against officers

In Pilibhit Assembly constituency of Uttar Pradesh, 10,470 voter names were changed following irregularities found in the electoral roll. An FIR has been filed against three officials by the Assistant District Election Officer. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh ordered legal action against two Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and terminated the services of a computer assistant.

The inquiry report found that the computer assistant entered 13,779 Form 8 applications for corrections between May 31 and August 29, 2026, but no physical forms or supporting records were available. All 10,470 approved entries showed irregularities. Departmental proceedings have been initiated against the EROs, and an inquiry into the role of Assistant Electoral Registration Officers is underway.

An investigation is being conducted into the Form 6 and Form 7 entries made by the computer assistant between April 10 and October 21. A detailed report is sought by Friday. The discrepancies were first raised by Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Faizan Ali Khan, who claimed that his name and that of his brother were not appearing in the electoral records despite being present in the final voter roll after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Khan alleged that fictitious names were deliberately entered, potentially denying him and his brother their right to vote. Congress leader Kumud Gangwar alleged that most of the affected voters were Muslims and that the discrepancies were made late at night or on holidays. The Opposition parties fear that similar discrepancies might exist in other Assembly constituencies of Pilibhit district.