India Supreme Court Hears Voter Roll and Police Brutality Pleas

The Supreme Court of India is hearing a series of petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which critics allege resulted in the deletion of over 130 million names to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and other lawmakers are seeking an independent audit and interim suspension of the process. The Election Commission of India has denied manipulation, stating the revision removes deceased, relocated, and duplicate voters.

Chief Justice Surya Kant indicated the court will examine these revision issues on a state-by-state basis, declining to club a specific plea regarding the deletion of over one crore voters in Maharashtra with Gandhi's broader petition. In Maharashtra, the Election Commission has extended the deadline for claims and objections to October 26.

Parallel to the electoral disputes, the court is addressing allegations of systemic police brutality, illegal detentions of lawyers and journalists, and internet shutdowns during protests in New Delhi. The court ordered a senior Delhi Police officer to respond to claims that women journalists were harassed. Meanwhile, the court is considering pleas to prohibit political protests within court premises and potential criminal contempt proceedings against Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for allegedly browbeating the judiciary.

In a separate development, Mumbai Police ordered US national and actor Imran Khan to leave India by October 28 after he participated in protests against the Chief Election Commissioner.