EC summons Indian pacer Mohammed Shami, his brother, for SIR hearing in Kolkata: Reports
Kolkata: Cricketer Mohammed Shami and his brother Mohammed Kaif were summoned by the Election Commission to appear for a hearing, part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process that began on December 16, 2025, reported India Today.
Notices were issued on Monday from Kartju Nagar School in the Jadavpur area of south Kolkata, directing both to appear before the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO). However, Shami could not attend the scheduled hearing, as he is currently in Rajkot representing Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Shami is a voter in Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Ward No. 93 under the Rashbehari Assembly constituency. He has been a permanent resident of Kolkata for several years tough he belonged to Uttar Pradesh.
Quoting ECI sources, the report stated that the names of Shami and his brother appeared on the hearing list due to complications in their enumeration forms, including discrepancies related to progeny mapping and self-mapping. Shami’s hearing has now been scheduled between January 9 and 11.
This comes amid criticism of the SIR process by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who earlier wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar questioning the objectives and asking whether the “ECI was aware of the goal of SIR.”
She wrote, "Although the exercise is described as time-bound, there are no clearly defined, transparent, or uniformly applicable timelines. Different States are following different criteria, and timelines are being altered arbitrarily, reflecting a glaring lack of clarity, preparedness, and procedural understanding.”
She further alleged a lack of transparency, uniform timelines and clear communication, warning that errors or ambiguities could lead to the disenfranchisement of genuine voters.
The final voter list for poll-bound West Bengal is slated to be published on February 14. More than 58 lakh names were deleted from the draft electoral rolls released in December as part of the SIR exercise.
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Ballari clashes: Karnataka govt transfers DIG, appoints new SP
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka government on Wednesday transferred the DIG of Ballari range, Vartika Katiyar, in what is seen as a move following the recent clashes in Ballari that led to the death of a person.
Dr P S Harsha, IPS, who was waiting for a posting, has now been posted as Inspector General of Police, Ballari Range, following Katiyar's transfer.
The government, which had suspended Pavan Nejjur as Ballari SP following the incident, has now appointed Suman D Pennekar as the new Superintendent of Police of the district.
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"Vartika Katiyar, IPS (KN 2010) Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ballari Range, is transferred with immediate effect and until further orders as Deputy Inspector General of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement in the upgraded vacant post," the government notification said, without mentioning any reasons.
P S Harsha, IPS (KN 2004), waiting for posting, is posted with immediate effect and until further orders as Inspector General of Police, Ballari Range, vice Vartika Katiyar, transferred, it said.
"Suman D Pennekar, IPS (KN 2013) Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence, is transferred with immediate effect and until further orders as Superintendent of Police, Ballari District in the vacant post," the notification further said.
Tension prevailed in parts of Ballari on January 1 night after supporters of Ballari Congress MLA Nara Bharath Reddy and Gangavati BJP MLA G Janardhan Reddy allegedly clashed over a banner installation issue. The situation turned violent with alleged stone-pelting and firing, leaving one person dead.
The clashes began after supporters of Bharath Reddy allegedly installed a banner related to the Valmiki statue unveiling in front of Janardhan Reddy's residence in Ballari.
Following the incident, the government had suspended Pavan Nejjur, who had taken charge as SP of Ballari on January 1.
He was suspended on the grounds that he did not act effectively in handling the situation and failed to properly brief senior officers about the ground situation.
The opposition BJP had accused the government of making the SP a "scapegoat" by suspending him.
