Thrissur: An investigation into widespread allegations of duplicate voter enrolment in Thrissur for the 2024 Lok Sabha election has now uncovered multiple cases of individuals holding more than one electoral identification card. New findings reveal that Subhash Gopi, brother of NDA candidate Suresh Gopi, and his wife Rani not only cast double votes but also possess two separate identity cards.

In the Iravipuram Assembly constituency of Kollam district, Subhash Gopi’s vote was cast using ID card number WLS 0136077, while his wife Rani’s vote was recorded under ID card number WLS 0136218. Both also had votes registered in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency.

According to the electoral rolls in Thrissur constituency, Subhash’s name appears as the 1219th voter at Mukattukara booth number 115, linked to ID card number FVM 1397173, while his wife Rani’s name is listed as the 1218th voter at the same booth with ID card number FVM 1397181. Suresh Gopi is the 1224th voter there. Furthermore, in local elections, both have current votes registered in Kollam Corporation and Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, respectively, indicating they are not permanent residents of Thrissur as per the local electoral rolls.

Documents also confirm that RSS leader Shaji Varavoor and his wife K M Deepti, who had votes in the Thrissur and Alathur Lok Sabha constituencies, held two identity cards each. Deepti’s votes were found both in booth number 11 of Alathur and booth number 37 of Thrissur, although they have stated that she only voted in Alathur. Shaji is also the Bharatiya Vichara Kendra secretary for the Thrissur region.

Legally, a person is entitled to use only one electoral identification card issued by the Election Commission. If a second card is received, it must be surrendered and cancelled immediately. Using multiple cards is a criminal offence. A second ID card can only be obtained by providing false information, which itself is a criminal offence under both the Representation of the People Act and the Indian Penal Code. Penalties include imprisonment from one to seven years and fines.