Just days before the special intensive revision (SIR) of the voter list is to start in West Bengal, BJP MLA Sankar Ghosh has written to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the alleged issuance of over 850 fake birth and death certificates from Kharibari Rural Hospital in Darjeeling.

The letter, dated October 19, claims that a preliminary investigation, which took place between August and October, found that the number of certificates issued was significantly higher than the actual number of births and deaths recorded.

“As reported in the media, over 850 fake certificates were issued between August and October, with the actual number of births and deaths being significantly lower (170) compared to the certificates issued (over 1,000),” read the letter. He stated that the certificates were mostly backdated, and allegations suggest that people from neighbouring districts, states, and countries obtained these certificates.

“Given the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Voter List in West Bengal, concerns arise that these fake certificates might aid infiltrators to remain as a voter in the voter list and Indian Citizen, which is completely illegal. Allegations of large-scale financial transactions and involvement of health department officials further exacerbate the situation. This incident compromises India’s internal security and raises questions about the state’s ability to prevent such malpractices,” Ghosh wrote in the letter.

The MLA, who is also the chief whip of the Opposition, has urged the ministry to conduct a thorough, statewide investigation, prosecute those involved, and consider regularising temporary health department positions to enhance accountability.

Ghosh further stated that the alleged issuance of fake birth certificates and other similar incidents were damaging West Bengal’s reputation and posed a risk to national security.

The SIR is a nationwide exercise mandated by the Election Commission of India and set to be implemented in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Unlike routine annual revisions, the SIR involves a comprehensive, ground-up cleansing of the voter list, requiring booth-level officers (BLOs) to conduct house-to-house verification and demanding that voters, especially those enrolled since 2002, submit new enumeration forms and documentary proof of eligibility. The preparatory phase involves “matching-mapping”, where the current 2025 roll is cross-referenced with the 2002 SIR data to identify mismatches and ease the process for long-term voters.

The exercise has become a major political flashpoint, with the Opposition supporting it as a necessary clean-up of the voter list and the ruling Trinamool Congress labeling it a potential “backdoor NRC (national register of citizens)” that could lead to the unfair deletion of genuine voters.

Owing to an extended festive season, the official launch of the SIR in the state is expected in the first or second week of November.