EC Orders Re-Polling in Faridabad Booth After Interference Charge

The video shows a man who appears to be a polling booth official who seems to be interfering with the voting.

The man seems to be interfering with the voting process every time someone comes to vote.

(Photo: Screenshot)

The Election Commission on Monday, 13 May, ordered re-polling at a polling booth under the Faridabad constituency, which went to polls in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections. The poll panel’s decision came after a video surfaced showing a man seemingly interfering with the voting process.

“A complaint of violation of secrecy of voting in PS no 88, Asaoti of 85 Prithla AC segment of 10 Faridabad PC was reported yesterday. On enquiry by the Observer, complaint was found to be true. The Commission has, therefore, ordered a fresh poll at this polling station on 19 May 2019,” the EC said in a statement.

The incident took place at Asawati village in Prithla assembly segment in the Faridabad parliamentary constituency, where polling was held on Sunday.

An FIR was lodged against the polling agent Giriraj Singh, who can be seen in the video.

"An FIR was lodged under Indian Penal Code sections 171 C (undue influence at elections) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) and section 135 of RP Act 1951 against the polling agent, Giriraj Singh," the EC said.

The presiding officer concerned was placed under suspension after the incident.

“The presiding office Amit Atri has been placed under suspension for the dereliction of duty and criminal action is also being initiated against the presiding officer. Micro observer Sonal Gulati has not reported the incident correctly for which the commission has barred her from any election related work for three years,” EC said.

The poll body also said that Returning Officer 10 of the Faridabad constituency has been transferred out from the present posting.

According to its statement, Ashok Kumar Garg, IAS, will now be posted in place of Atul Kumar as District Electoral Officer and Returning Officer, Faridabad.

Earlier however, the district election office had tweeted saying that the person purportedly in the video “is behind bars” and that the observer is satisfied that the polling was not compromised.

After multiple complaints, senior Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa himself responded on Twitter assuring action “against those found wanting in their duty.”

He said the “the person in the video is the Polling agent who has been arrested in the afternoon itself.”

What the Video Shows

According to a tweet by Anurag Dhanda, who posted the video on Twitter, the video was taken at a polling booth in Faridabad.

The video shows a man who appears to be a polling booth official who keeps getting up and interfering with the voting process as every individual goes to vote.

The video was shared by many people on Twitter, including Rahul Pandita, a journalist, who said, "This is really shocking. But who will take note of this!"

Many tagged the election office asking for action to be taken against the man.

(With inputs from PTI)