The ongoing Summary Interim Revision (SIR) process in West Bengal has sparked a major political controversy following reports that Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen, star cricketer Mohammed Shami, and actor-MP Dev have been issued hearing notices by the Election Commission. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee raised the issue during a public rally in Birbhum’s Rampurhat, questioning the administrative intent behind targeting such global icons.

Age Gap Error Cited in Amartya Sen’s Notice

According to sources within the Election Commission, the notice served to Professor Amartya Sen pertains to a “logical discrepancy” found in his SIR documentation. Specifically, Commission sources revealed that the records indicate an age difference of less than 15 years between the Nobel economist and his mother. This statistical inconsistency triggered an automatic flag in the system, leading to the requirement for a physical hearing to rectify the data.

On Wednesday morning, Booth Level Officer (BLO) Shyamabrata Mukhopadhyay arrived at ‘Pratichi,’ Professor Sen’s residence in Santiniketan, to deliver the notice. However, the economist was not present at the house during the visit.

Prominent Personalities Under the Scanner

Abhishek Banerjee criticized the move, labeling it an insult to those who have brought international acclaim to India. “It is a matter of great irony that a man like Amartya Sen, who made India’s name world-famous, is being served an SIR notice,” Banerjee stated.

The TMC leader further disclosed that World Cup hero Mohammed Shami and Bengali cinema superstar Dev have also been served similar notices. In Dev’s case, the scrutiny reportedly extends to three members of his family as well. Banerjee alleged that these notices are part of a larger pattern of harassment.

Allegations of Systematic Voter Exclusion

The controversy surrounding “logical discrepancies” has become a central point of friction between the ruling state government and the Election Commission. Banerjee recently met with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar to discuss these issues, later telling the press that the “mystery of vote theft” lies within these technical excuses.

The TMC leadership has claimed that nearly 1.33 crore voters have been placed on a “suspicious” list under the guise of data inconsistencies. The party alleges that the SIR process is being used as a tool for targeted voter deletion, while the Commission maintains that the hearings are a necessary procedural step to ensure the integrity of the electoral roll by correcting factual errors.

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