Bengaluru: A Bengaluru city court has once again issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against veteran actor Prakash Raj over allegations that his name is listed on four separate voter rolls across three different states, including Karnataka.

The latest warrant was re-issued on June 12, following a petition moved by local advocate K Dilip Kumar.

According to official court records, this marks the third time an NBW has been issued against the multi-lingual actor. The court had initially issued a summons on February 17, 2026, through the Commissioner of Police. However, the actor could not be located at the address provided in the legal petition.

While issuing the first NBW on March 17, the court noted, "It is reported that accused has vacated the house. Accused called out absent. Issue NBW to accused."

The case was subsequently scheduled for April 17, and the NBW was re-issued after the actor failed to appear. The third warrant followed on June 12, 2026, noting that the presiding judge had gone for training. The case is now set for its next hearing on July 25, 2026.

The legal dispute traces back to 2019, when Prakash Raj contested the Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from the Bengaluru Central constituency.

In his 2023 complaint, Kumar alleged that along with being registered to vote in Bengaluru's Shantinagar assembly segment, the actor's name was found twice in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (Velachary constituency), and also in Telangana's Serilingam Pally assembly segment.

The petitioner stated that he had initially approached the local police in April 2019, but no action followed. He subsequently moved the court, which formally took up the matter in 2023.

On August 1, 2025, the court stated that it took cognizance "for the offences punishable under Sections 31 and 125(A) of Representation of the People Act, 1950”.

Summons were ordered immediately after. Due to the actor's ongoing absence during subsequent hearings, the court proceeded to issue the non-bailable warrants.

PTI