FIR Filed Against Journalist Ajit Anjum Over Bihar Voter List Coverage, Ravish Kumar Slams EC as ‘FIR Commission’

Patna: A police complaint has been filed against journalist Ajit Anjum in Bihar, after he aired reports alleging irregularities in the state’s ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.

The FIR was lodged following a complaint by booth-level officer (BLO) Ansarulhaq from the Sahebpur Kamal assembly constituency in Begusarai district. Anjum had recently broadcast a report on his digital channel highlighting alleged flaws in the voter list revision process, including incomplete forms and discrepancies in field operations.

बेगूसराय के एक मुस्लिम BLO को मेरे खिलाफ मोहरा बनाया है . मेरे वीडियो में ऐसा कुछ नहीं , जो इस FIR में कहा गया है . आप लोग देखें और तय करें .
चालीस मिनट के वीडियो में कई सवाल हैं , जिनका जवाब चुनाव आयोग को देना चाहिए .
मेरे वीडियो को पब्लिश होने से रोकने के लिए कई बार SDM और BDO… pic.twitter.com/xoby16lqAJ

— Ajit Anjum (@ajitanjum) July 14, 2025

Reacting to the FIR, Anjum took to social media platform X, calling the police action an attack on press freedom. “I have fulfilled my journalistic duty during my reporting,” he wrote. “The irregularities that we saw on the ground were exposed. Incomplete forms were filled at many places, and they are being submitted.”

He alleged that local officials had tried to suppress his report. “I received several calls from the SDM and BDO to stop my video from being published because a lot of things were captured on my camera which became a cause of embarrassment for them,” he said.

Anjum also claimed that the BLO who filed the complaint had been pressured into acting against him, describing the official as being made “a pawn.” He insisted there was nothing defamatory in his footage and urged people to watch his 40-minute video and “decide for themselves.”

The controversy has sparked wider criticism from within the journalistic fraternity. Senior journalist Ravish Kumar sharply criticised the development, saying the Election Commission should be renamed the “FIR Commission.” Writing on social media, he said: “The opposition should go to every village and ask voters why they have received an acknowledgement receipt. Or the Commission should remove from its board the statement that BLOs are carrying two forms. The FIR should be filed against the person who gave this instruction and who got it written. As per the rules, the Commission should thank @ajitanjum and withdraw the FIR. The cases against the BLOs who have been punished should also be withdrawn.”

चुनाव आयोग का नाम FIR आयोग कर देना चाहिए। विपक्ष को गांव गांव जाना चाहिए और वोटर से पूछना चाहिए कि क्यों उन्हें पावती रसीद मिली है? या फिर आयोग को अपने बोर्ड से हटवा देना चाहिए कि BLO दो फॉर्म लेकर जा रहे हैं? यह निर्देश जिसने दिया है और जिसने लिखवाया है, FIR उसके ख़िलाफ़ होनी… https://t.co/iFAajuPU1N

— ravish kumar (@ravish_journo) July 14, 2025

The Election Commission has not issued an official statement regarding Anjum’s allegations or the FIR at the time of writing.