Karnataka HC stays FIR against BJP MLA Jeevaraj in Sringeri postal ballot row
Synopsis
A court-supervised recount flipped the Sringeri seat from Congress to BJP — and within days, an FIR landed on the winner. Now the Karnataka High Court has stayed that case, questioned its timing, and warned police against political influence. The episode lays bare the volatile intersection of judicial orders, electoral outcomes, and state police conduct in Karnataka.
Key Takeaways
The Karnataka High Court granted an interim stay on the FIR against BJP MLA D.N.
Jeevaraj on 6 May 2025 .
Jeevaraj was declared winner of the Sringeri seat by 52 votes after a court-ordered recount of postal ballots reversed the 2023 result.
The FIR was filed under IPC Sections 143, 465, 468, 471, 120B, 149 and Section 136 of the Representation of the People Act .
Srishananda questioned how a case could be filed in 2025 for an alleged incident on 13 May 2023 .
The court cautioned police against acting under political influence and directed the Investigating Officer to appear before it.
The matter is next listed for hearing on 7 May 2025 .
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday, 6 May 2025, granted an interim stay on the First Information Report (FIR) registered against Sringeri MLA D.N. Jeevaraj of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who was recently declared elected following a recount of postal ballots in the Sringeri Assembly constituency. The court also issued a sharp warning to the police against acting under political influence.
Background: Recount That Changed the Result
The controversy stems from the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, in which Congress candidate T.D. Rajegowda had initially won the Sringeri seat by a margin of 201 votes. Following a legal challenge, the Karnataka High Court ordered a reverification and recount of postal ballots. That recount, completed on Sunday, saw a significant number of votes declared invalid, ultimately reversing the outcome. Jeevaraj was declared the winner by a margin of 52 votes, with the election officer formally handing him the winner's certificate. This marks his fourth term as an MLA from Sringeri.
The FIR and What It Alleged
On Monday, the Chikkamagaluru Town Police Station registered a case against three individuals, including Jeevaraj, following a complaint filed on 3 May by advocate Sudheer Kumar Murolli, who had served as an agent at a postal ballot counting table. Murolli alleged suspected tampering of ballot papers during the counting process, citing the late-night nature of the recount as a reason for the delay in lodging the complaint.
The FIR was registered under Sections 143, 465, 468, 471, 120B and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with Section 136 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and its 1988 amendment.
What the High Court Said
A Vacation Bench headed by Justice V. Srishananda heard Jeevaraj's petition seeking to quash the criminal case. The court expressed strong dissatisfaction over the manner in which the matter was handled by authorities. It questioned how an FIR could be registered in May 2025 for an incident that allegedly took place on 13 May 2023, and pulled up the prosecution for failing to bring the alleged tampering to the court's notice during the recount proceedings ordered by the very same court.
The Bench also questioned why a case had been filed against the Deputy Commissioner who was in office in 2023, while no action was taken against the current election officer, Gaurav Shetty. The court observed that issues such as missing seals or double markings were not raised at the time of the court-supervised recount, raising doubts about the timing of the complaint. It further opined that a case cannot be registered against a Deputy Commissioner under the Representation of the People Act.
The court directed the Investigating Officer to appear before it and granted an interim stay on any coercive action against Jeevaraj. The matter has been adjourned to 7 May for further hearing.
What Happens Next
With the interim stay in place, no coercive action can be taken against Jeevaraj until the next hearing. The court's observations about political influence on the police and the selective nature of the FIR are likely to intensify scrutiny on the Congress-led state government's handling of the post-recount fallout. The case is being closely watched as a test of judicial oversight over election-related disputes in Karnataka.
Point of View
Having the High Court publicly warn its police against acting under political influence is a reputational setback that no press statement can easily undo.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Karnataka High Court stay the FIR against Sringeri MLA D.N. Jeevaraj?
The Karnataka High Court stayed the FIR because it found serious procedural irregularities, including the fact that a case was registered in 2025 for an alleged incident that occurred on 13 May 2023. The court also questioned why the prosecution did not raise tampering concerns during the court-supervised recount itself.
How did D.N. Jeevaraj win the Sringeri seat?
Jeevaraj was declared elected from Sringeri after a Karnataka High Court-ordered recount of postal ballots was completed. A significant number of votes were declared invalid during the recount, reversing the 2023 result in which Congress candidate T.D. Rajegowda had won by 201 votes. Jeevaraj won by a margin of 52 votes.
What are the charges in the Sringeri postal ballot FIR?
The FIR was registered under IPC Sections 143, 465, 468, 471, 120B, and 149 — covering forgery, using forged documents, unlawful assembly, and criminal conspiracy — along with Section 136 of the Representation of the People Act. Three individuals, including Jeevaraj, were named.
Who filed the complaint against Jeevaraj?
The complaint was filed by advocate Sudheer Kumar Murolli on 3 May 2025. He had served as an agent at a postal ballot counting table and alleged suspected tampering of ballot papers during the counting process, citing the late-night recount as the reason for the delay in lodging the complaint.
When is the next hearing in the Sringeri MLA FIR case?
The Karnataka High Court has adjourned the matter to 7 May 2025 for further hearing, with the Investigating Officer directed to appear before the court on that date.
