Booth capturing: Poll agent given bail

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, May 13

The police have arrested a polling agent on the charge of duplicate voting, booth capturing, and interference in the electoral process at a booth at Asavati village in the Prithla segment of the Faridabad Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday. The action comes after a video went viral on social media on Sunday evening showing an agent in the booth pressing the button of the EVM on behalf of some voters. The first FIR in connection with poll irregularities in the constituency was also registered.

Meanwhile, the election authorities have ordered a re-poll at the booth at Asavati village on May 19. Congress candidate Avtar Singh Bhadana had demanded re-poll at four booths located at Mewla Maharajpur, BN Public School in NIT, Newada and Asavati village in the constituency.

The guilty agent, who was arrested Sunday night, got bail this noon, however. A case under Section 171 C, and 188 of the IPC and Section 135 of the Representation of People Act 1951 was registered against him on a complaint by the presiding officer of the booth number 88 located at Asavati village. The accused poll agent has been identified as Giriraj, a local resident. “He was the poll agent of the BJP in the booth and he pressed the EVM button on behalf of some voters, as is visible in the video,” said Bhadana, who claimed that a complaint had been lodged.

He alleged that BJP agents sitting outside booths were displaying the party symbol prominently, and were also giving voter slips having the photos of the BJP candidate and party leaders to influence voters. A team of senior election officials visited Asavati village on Monday to verify the allegations and inquire into the ‘failure’ of election officials, including the presiding officer, to prevent the incident, said sources in the district administration. BJP candidate Krishan Pal Gurjar denied the charges of booth capture or violation of the code of conduct.

Meanwhile, BB Gogia, assistant returning officer of the Prithla Assembly segment, has recommended registration of an FIR against the presiding officer of booth number 88 at Asavati village.

In a letter to the police, Gogia said that after watching the video multiple times, the behaviour of Amit Atri, presiding officer of the booth, was found to be suspicious that encouraged malpractices, amounting to dereliction of duty and breach of official duty under Section 134 of the Representation of People Act 1951. The police are requested to lodge an FIR against him and take necessary action. This letter was issued late this evening.

Congress presses for FIR against BJP minister Grover

Rohtak: The Congress has alleged that the Rohtak district administration and the local police are not taking any concrete action against Haryana Minister of State for Cooperation Manish Grover in an alleged booth-capturing case owing to the pressure of the state government. It has demanded registration of an FIR against the minister. Congress leaders had lodged several complaints against Grover alleging that the minister, along with a number of musclemen, illegally entered polling booths on Sunday and intimidated polling officials and voters while the voting process was on, which amounted to booth capturing. Former Congress MLA from Rohtak Bharat Bhushan Batra, addressing mediapersons here today,  said no action had been taken as yet against Grover, who was the main conspirator. tns