Isn’t this citizenship proof enough, asks Sunali as dad on SIR final list

Kolkata: Sunali Khatun's father Bhodu Sheikh and Sweety Bibi's mother Rozina Bibi have been declared genuine voters in the final electoral list published by the EC on Feb 28. This comes after Sunali and Sweety were tagged "illegal immigrants" and pushed into Bangladesh last June. Sunali and her minor son were brought back to India last Dec after the intervention of the Supreme Court on humanitarian grounds.

In the 2002 SIR list, which formed the base for SIR in 2026, names of Sunali's parents — Bhodu Sheikh and Jyotsna Bibi — featured under Murarai assembly constituency in Birbhum. They had submitted their enumeration forms in 2025 for the SIR while their pregnant daughter, grandson, and son-in-law were in Bangladesh.


Seeing her father's name in the published list, an emotional Sunali said: "This is proof that my father is an Indian citizen. I am an Indian citizen. Because of Delhi police's actions, I have lost my job as a house help. I used to earn me at least Rs 10,000 a month. My family is split... my husband is in Bangladesh, unable to see our newborn. The past many months have been hell for my family with date after date in court."

Sunali, her husband Danish Sheikh, and their eight-year-old son were picked up during an "identity verification drive" in Delhi on June 21. By FRRO memo, they were detained at a community hall in Rohini, and on June 26, a deportation order was passed. Her husband, Sweety Bibi and Sweety's two sons, Qurban Sheikh and Imam Dewan, remain in Bangladesh.

While the name of Sunali's mother has been marked "under adjudication", Sunali said all necessary documents, including the 2002 list which featured Jyotsna Bibi's name, had been submitted. Danish's mother Dilruba Bibi's name is also under adjudication. Danish had submitted her EPIC in court to prove his citizenship and cited the example of his grandfather Ekamuddin Sheikh, whose name featured in the 2002 SIR list.

Sunali herself, however, does not possess a voter ID card. She tried applying for one online but was unsuccessful. "We could not apply for a voter card at camps held here because we were in Delhi, working to earn a living," she said, while claiming that she possessed an Aadhaar card, PAN card, ration card, and land deeds dating back to her grandfather.

Meanwhile, Sweety Bibi's mother Rozina's name has also appeared in the final voter roll, her cousin Amir told TOI. "In our family, many people's names are featured; a few are under adjudication. But documents have been submitted," Amir said. On the other hand, Danish's mother Dilruba Bibi's name is also under adjudication in the SIR list.