Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested a young voter after a viral video showed him casting multiple votes for a BJP candidate at a polling booth. The accused, identified as Rajan Singh, was taken into custody late Sunday after opposition leaders, including those from Congress and Samajwadi Party, shared the video on X.
In the two-minute video, Singh is seen voting at least eight times for BJP candidate Mukesh Rajput, who is contesting from the Farrukhabad Lok Sabha constituency.
An FIR was filed at the Naya Gaon police station following a complaint by Assistant Returning Officer Prateet Tripathi. The case includes charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other laws, such as IPC Section 171F (offence related to elections), IPC Section 419 (cheating by personation), and Sections 128, 132, and 136 of the Representation of the People’s Act (relating to election offences).
The Election Commission has taken notice of the incident, directing authorities to take prompt and effective action. “Cognizance of the circulating video has been taken. The concerned District Election Officer has been directed to take prompt and effective action,” stated Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa. Additionally, the Election Commission ordered the suspension and disciplinary proceedings against all officials present at the polling booth during the incident.
The crackdown followed after Congress and Samajwadi Party shared the video on X, calling for action from the Election Commission. “Dear Election Commission, do you see this? One person is voting eight times. It is time to wake up,” Congress wrote on X. Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav also shared the video, demanding action from the EC.
Former Telangana Minister and BRS Leader K.T. Rama Rao commented on the video, stating, “Elections in India have become an absolute joke 🤦♂️ @ECISVEEP do you guys have anything to say?”
