Howrah Voters Petition Supreme Court on Deleted Electoral Rolls Ahead of November Municipal Elections
The run-up to the Kolkata and Howrah municipal elections in November 2026 was marked by a legal challenge at the Supreme Court, where five voters deleted from West Bengal's electoral rolls sought expedited hearings before the civic polls. Separately, the Railway Protection Force made a notable arrest at Howrah station when a Maharashtra resident was caught carrying Rs 67 lakh in cash.
🗳️ Deleted Voters Seek Supreme Court Action Before Howrah Municipal Polls
Five residents of West Bengal whose names were removed from the state's electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision process have approached the Supreme Court seeking an expedited decision on their pending appeals, according to a report by LawChakra published on October 8, 2026. The petitioners stated that their names were deleted from West Bengal's voter rolls without any prior notice being served to them and without a speaking order explaining the reason for their removal. With the Kolkata and Howrah municipal elections scheduled for November 2026, the applicants urged the Supreme Court to dispose of their appeals on a priority basis so they could participate in the upcoming civic polls. In addition to seeking reinstatement on the electoral rolls, the voters requested the court to constitute a Special Investigation Team to examine the process by which the SIR-based deletions were carried out across West Bengal. The report, authored by Priyanka Jha of LawChakra, noted that as of publication no hearing had been scheduled and no court order had been passed on the fresh application. LawChakra stated explicitly that the details reported represent the applicants' own claims, and no independent judicial verification or ruling had been issued at the time of reporting. The matter was among several legal challenges arising from the Special Intensive Revision exercise in West Bengal in the period leading up to the state's civic elections. [3]
Rs 67 Lakh Cash Seized from Maharashtra Passenger at Howrah Station
A passenger from Maharashtra was arrested by the Railway Protection Force at Howrah station in West Bengal on Monday, September 21, 2026, after officials discovered a large sum of cash in his possession during a check at the rail junction. According to Mid-Day citing the news agency IANS, the RPF apprehended Sujit Kale, a resident of Maharashtra, and recovered approximately Rs 67 lakh in cash from his bag at the time of the arrest. When questioned by Railway Protection Force officials, Kale reportedly stated that he was carrying the money with the intention of purchasing gold and silver in Kolkata. The Railway Protection Force launched an investigation following the arrest and recovery. The case was reported by Mid-Day's online correspondent on September 21, 2026, based on information provided by IANS. Howrah station is one of the busiest and most historically significant railway terminals in India, serving as a primary gateway for travelers entering Kolkata from across the country and making it a frequent location for law enforcement operations. The RPF's detection of the cash was the result of its routine monitoring activity at the station. A probe was launched following the seizure to determine the source and intended use of the funds. [4]