Cricketer Mohammed Shami, His Brother Summoned By EC For SIR Hearing In Kolkata

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has summoned cricketer Mohammad Shami and his brother, Mohammed Kaif, over some problems with their enumeration forms.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has summoned cricketer Mohammed Shami and his brother, Mohammed Kaif, for a hearing as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls that began on December 16, 2025.

Shami and his brother were called for the hearing due to some discrepancies in their enumeration forms. The cricketer has written to the poll body that he could not appear as he is in Rajkot for the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.

“I am writing with reference to the notice received regarding my appearance before your office on 05 January 2026 in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Electoral Roll. I would like to respectfully inform you that due to my current participation in domestic cricket matches, wherein I am officially representing the Bengal State Team, I shall be unable to attend the scheduled hearing on the mentioned date and time," Shami wrote in is letter to the EC.

Why Did EC Summon Shami?

Election Commission sources told India Today that the names of Shami and his brother surfaced on the hearing list owing to complications in their enumeration forms. The issues relate to discrepancies in progeny mapping and self-mapping.

Notices were issued on Monday from Kartju Nagar School in the Jadavpur area of south Kolkata, directing them to appear before the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO). Shami’s hearing was scheduled to take place on January 5, but it was postponed to between January 9 and 11 after he wrote to the ECI.

Shami is enrolled as a voter in Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Ward No. 93, which falls under the Rashbehari Assembly constituency. Although he was born in Uttar Pradesh’s Amroha, Shami has been a permanent resident of Kolkata for several years.

This came after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar expressing serious concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, alleging procedural lapses, arbitrariness, and violations of due process.

In the letter dated January 3, 2026, Banerjee stated that critical instructions related to the SIR are being communicated informally through WhatsApp messages and text messages, without formal written notifications, circulars, or statutory orders. She argued that this lack of formal documentation undermines transparency, accuracy, and accountability, and could lead to the disenfranchisement of genuine voters.

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