Supreme Court Intervenes: Stays Proceedings Against Psephologist Sanjay Kumar in Maharashtra Election Discrepancy Case
The Supreme Court has stayed the proceedings in the complaints registered against psephologist Sanjay Kumar over his tweet pointing out discrepancies in the Maharashtra assembly elections. Kumar had earlier apologized for the post, which claimed a significant dip in voter numbers.
Maharashtra ElectionSupreme CourtSanjay KumarPsephologistVoter DiscrepancyReal Estate MaharashtraAug 25, 2025
This comes days after the Maharashtra Police registered FIR against Sanjay Kumar for spreading 'false information' and election-related violations in Maharashtra's Nagpur. The psephologist had earlier apologized for his post on the Maharashtra elections, which claimed a significant dip in the number of voters in two assembly constituencies compared to the Lok Sabha election held just months earlier.
Sanjay Kumar, the co-director of Lokniti-CSDS, wrote on X, 'I sincerely apologize for the tweets posted regarding Maharashtra elections. An error occurred while comparing data of 2024 LS and 2024 AS. The data in the row was misread by our data team. The tweet has since been removed. I had no intention of dispersing any form of misinformation.'
In his now-deleted post on Maharashtra elections, Kumar had claimed that in the assembly constituency 59 (Ramtek), the number of voters in 2024 stood at 4,66,203 in the Lok Sabha polls and 2,86,931 in the assembly polls, claiming a -38.45% decrease in voters. In his second claim, Kumar had said that in the assembly constituency (Devlali), the number of voters in the Lok Sabha was 4,56,072, and during the assembly elections, it came down to 2,88,141, claiming a 36.82% decrease.
The Supreme Court's decision to stay the proceedings is seen as a significant move, providing Kumar with temporary relief from the legal proceedings. The case has garnered attention due to the sensitive nature of election-related claims and the potential impact on public perception.
Sanjay Kumar is a well-known psephologist and co-director of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) and Lokniti, a network for the study of political and social processes in South Asia. His work often involves analyzing election data and trends, making his comments on voter discrepancies particularly notable.
The legal battle underscores the importance of accuracy in public statements, especially those related to elections. While Kumar has taken responsibility for the error, the case highlights the need for rigorous data verification and the potential consequences of misinformation in the digital age.
As the legal proceedings continue, the Supreme Court's interim order ensures that the matter will be thoroughly examined, providing a fair and just resolution to the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sanjay Kumar claim in his tweet about the Maharashtra elections?
Sanjay Kumar claimed a significant dip in the number of voters in two assembly constituencies (Ramtek and Devlali) compared to the Lok Sabha election held just months earlier.
Why did the Supreme Court stay the proceedings against Sanjay Kumar?
The Supreme Court stayed the proceedings in response to a writ petition filed by Kumar seeking the quashing of the FIRs registered against him for spreading 'false information' and election-related violations.
What did Sanjay Kumar say in his apology?
Sanjay Kumar apologized for the tweets and explained that an error occurred while comparing data, leading to the misreading of the voter numbers. He removed the tweet and stated that he had no intention of dispersing misinformation.
What is the significance of the Supreme Court's interim order?
The interim order provides temporary relief to Sanjay Kumar from the legal proceedings and ensures that the matter will be thoroughly examined, leading to a fair and just resolution.
What is the role of Sanjay Kumar in the field of psephology?
Sanjay Kumar is a well-known psephologist and co-director of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) and Lokniti. His work involves analyzing election data and trends.
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