BJP leader charged with misuse of Form-7 gets anticipatory bail

Updated - October 16, 2026 08:34 am IST - Belagavi

Ravi Patil, a BJP leader, facing charges of misusing Form-7 to target Muslim voters, appearing before an investigating officer of the Begalavi Market Police Station in Belagavi on Sunday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

A local court granted conditional interim bail to Ravi Patil, a BJP leader from the Belagavi North Assembly constituency, who is facing charges of misusing Form-7 to seek deletion of the names of some Muslim voters.

The Belagavi police had registered an FIR against Dr. Patil at the Belagavi Market Police Station over allegations of his misuse of Form-7 and of attempting to illegally delete the names of approximately 198 Muslim voters from Veerabhadra Nagar during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Aman Sait, a young Congress leader, had seized these forms from two persons employed in Dr. Patil’s hospital and had complained to the District Election Officer. Meerasab Sanadi, a Booth Level Agent, filed a police complaint against Dr. Patil, two of his employees, and 20 other unidentified persons.

Dr. Patil had approached the Second Additional District and Sessions Court in Belagavi, which granted him interim bail. Meanwhile, Dr. Patil appeared before an investigating officer of the Belagavi Market Police Station, who is looking into the complaint, on Sunday.

Judge Gangadhar K.N. issued the order, granting him bail upon the furnishing of a bond for ₹50,000 and a surety for the same amount. The court imposed conditions requiring him not to tamper with evidence or intimidate witnesses, to appear before the investigating officers when summoned, and to refrain from engaging in criminal activities.

The court observed that election officers do not automatically take action of deletion or retention merely upon the submission of Form-7, and said that they conduct an independent inquiry and verification of these submissions.

The court noted that the case is document-based and that the relevant applications were already with the Booth Level Officer. It also observed that election officers were not individuals affiliated with any specific political party. Considering that arrest could damage the petitioner’s reputation and social standing, the court granted bail.

Published - October 04, 2026 08:19 pm IST

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