Overview
- Union minister Sukanta Majumdar alleged that former chief secretary Manoj Pant attended the February 21 SIR review restricted by the Supreme Court to specified officials, calling the presence "totally illegal."
- He demanded that police file an FIR and arrest Pant, accusing the state government of trying to influence proceedings related to the voter roll revision.
- State government sources said Pant attended with Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty’s approval in his capacity as the Chief Minister’s personal secretary, and a state official said he had the Chief Justice’s permission.
- The February 21 meeting, chaired by Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Sujoy Pal, reviewed the SIR with the Chief Secretary, Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal and senior officials.
- Election Commission sources reported nearly 12 million data discrepancies, 3.2 million unmapped voters and about six million complaints to resolve, while a scuffle outside the CEO’s office during Suvendu Adhikari’s visit led to police intervention and one reported injury.