Is Thrissur Police Investigating MoS Suresh Gopi for Alleged Illegal Voter Registration?

Thrissur, Aug 12 (IANS) The Thrissur City Police have launched an investigation following a complaint from senior Congress officials against Union Minister and MP Suresh Gopi, who is accused of illegal voter registration and criminal conspiracy.

Commissioner R. Ilango of the Thrissur City Police confirmed that the complaint is being taken seriously and has been assigned to Assistant Commissioner of Police Salish N. Sankaran for further inquiry.

Before advancing with the case, legal advice will be sought, as noted by the Commissioner.

The complaint was lodged by T.N. Prathapan, a member of the KPCC Political Affairs Committee, who claims that Suresh Gopi unlawfully transferred his voter registration to the Thrissur constituency just before the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Prathapan served as the Thrissur Lok Sabha member from 2019 to 2024 but opted out of the upcoming 2024 national elections.

According to the complaint, Suresh Gopi, a permanent resident of Thiruvananthapuram, allegedly shifted his voter registration to booth number 115 in the Thrissur Assembly constituency through a “false declaration” and “illegal means”.

Prathapan contended that this action breaches the Representation of the People Act, which stipulates that individuals can only register in a constituency where they are permanent residents.

The complaint also pointed out that Suresh Gopi and his family have resided for decades at House No. 22/1788 in the Sasthamangalam division of the Thiruvananthapuram Assembly constituency.

Even during the latest electoral roll revision—conducted after Gopi took on the role of Union Minister—his and his family's names remained on the Thiruvananthapuram voter list.

“This is clear evidence of electoral manipulation by Suresh Gopi,” Prathapan claimed in his report to the police.

The situation has drawn political scrutiny in Kerala, especially as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been gaining ground in Thrissur, a constituency it secured for the first time in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls through Gopi's victory.

The police investigation will assess the validity of the documents submitted for the voter transfer, the legality of the process, and whether any criminal conspiracy was involved.

In a related matter, allegations have emerged that Gopi's brother, Subhash Gopi, also holds dual voter registrations.

Reports indicate that Subhash Gopi's name is listed in both the Thrissur and Kollam electoral rolls.

In Kollam, his voter registration is connected to the family residence, “Lakshmi Nivas”, with voting rights in booth number 84 of the Eravipuram Assembly constituency.

However, it has not been confirmed whether he actually cast a vote there in the last election.