Thrissur: Kerala Police have maintained that no case will be filed against Union Minister Suresh Gopi regarding alleged irregularities in the voter list for the Lok Sabha elections. Officials said there is no evidence or documents to support the complaint.

The complaint was lodged by former MP T.N. Prathapan, alleging that Suresh Gopi and his family had added their names to the voter list in Thrissur using forged documents. It also claimed that the affidavit submitted was false.

Preliminary probe finds no evidence

Police, after completing preliminary investigations, maintained that it was not possible to register a case. “No documents or evidence sufficient to prove the matters raised in the complaint have been obtained,” officials said.

Electoral jurisdiction limits police action

The police further clarified that complaints regarding forged documents should be lodged with the Election Commission. Since no such complaint has been received from the Commission, it is not possible to file a case. Investigation into voter list irregularities cannot be conducted by the police, sources added.

Background: Gopi’s 2024 Lok Sabha win

Actor-politician Suresh Gopi won from Thrissur in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, helping the BJP open its account in Kerala. He secured a margin of over 70,000 votes, prompting allegations of voter list manipulation.

Prathapan, who was Thrissur MP from 2019–2024, chose not to contest. The Congress fielded K. Muraleedharan, sitting MP from Badagara. Gopi, who finished third in 2019, achieved a decisive win, pushing the Congress candidate to third place, with former State Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar coming second.

After Gopi’s victory, Prathapan lodged a complaint alleging that he and his brother had forged documents to register votes illegally in Thrissur. The police concluded that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the charges.

City Police Commissioner comments

“The absence of credible documents prevents us from moving ahead with a case,” the Commissioner noted.

However, authorities did not rule out reopening the matter. “Any further evidence provided by competent authorities will be duly considered, and the case can be revisited if necessary,” the statement added.