Chandigarh mayoral polls 'tampering': New and clearer CCTV video surfaces on social media

Chandigarh, February 6

A new and clearer CCTV video of alleged ‘tempering’ has emerged on social media that captured Presiding Officer Anil Masih signing the ballot papers, soon after the Supreme Court made strong observations about controversial Chandigarh mayoral polls.

In a video posted by AAP leader Swati Maliwal on X, she wrote: “Brother was caught red handed…”

The video, which was captured from the top angle of the CCTV camera, Masih can be seen writing something on ballot papers while glancing at the camera.

Observing that returning officer Anil Masih has “defaced the ballots” in the Chandigarh mayoral polls, the Supreme Court on Monday summoned the official in question to remain present before the top court on February 19 to explain his conduct.

It ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh UT to hand over the entirety of the record to the Registrar General of the High Court for safekeeping and custody.

The directions were passed on a plea filed by INDIA bloc’s mayoral candidate Kuldeep Kumar against the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s refusal to stay the poll results held on January 30 for the post of Mayor.

In his plea, he had accused the Presiding Officer of resorting to fraud and forgery in the counting process and alleged complete departure of the practice and rules.

After perusal of the CCTV footage given in the pendrive by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor, the apex court said: “This is a mockery of democracy. He is murdering democracy. Is this the behaviour of a returning officer, who looks at the camera and defaces the ballot?”

“We will not allow democracy to be murdered like this..Please tell your returning officer that there is a Supreme Court watching over him,” the top court told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the returning officer.

Further, the apex court observed: “It is obvious that he defaced the ballots. This man has to be prosecuted.”

The AAP-Congress alliance lost the contest despite having the maximum councillors as eight out of 36 votes were declared invalid by presiding authority Masih, a nominated councilor, with no voting rights. The BJP got 16 votes, while the AAP-Congress alliance had 12 votes despite having 20 councillors.