Case registered against unknown persons

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 29

The police today registered a case in connection with the June 11 Rajya Sabha elections that courted “ink controversy”. The BJP-supported Subhash Chandra had defeated Congress-backed RK Anand after 12 votes of MLAs were rejected because a wrong pen was used to cast vote.

Ram Gopal, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Central), Chandigarh Police, confirmed a case was registered in the Sector 3 police station against unidentified persons on a complaint by the Haryana Chief Electoral Officer.

The FIR was registered under Sections 129 (influencing voting), 134 (breach of official duty in connection with elections), 136 (1)(b), 136 (1)(f) and 136 (1)(g) (fraudulently defacing ballot papers) of the Representation of People’s Act, and Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 171-C, 171-F (interference in free and fair polls), 378, 379 (theft), 415 (cheating), 425, 426 (mischief), 463, 464, 465, 467 and 468 (forgery) of the IPC.

The DSP said Sub-Inspector Mohan Lal would investigate the matter.

“Several reports are attached with the complaint. The police will study these reports and proceed with the investigation accordingly,” he said.

Sources said the police would take all ballot papers in their custody, as these were now a case property.

Anand had lodged a complaint with the Chandigarh Police immediately after the elections. He had moved the Election Commission as well, leading to an inquiry that culminated in registration of a case today. “Those responsible should be arrested soon,” Anand told The Tribune.

“The case warrants custodial investigation. The police must arrest Returning Officer RK Nandal, his deputies, Independent MLA Jai Parkash and BJP MLA Aseem Goyal, and interrogate them. The truth will come out,” he said.

On the fairness of the police investigation in the light of their inaction on his July 11 complaint, Anand said he would give the police a little margin. “If the investigation is not fair, I will request for a CBI probe.”