2 post live ballot videos, held

ibune News Service

Mohali, May 19

Two persons, a local Congress leader and a BJP councillor, have been arrested for uploading videos of casting their votes on social media at Kurali today.

The suspects have been identified as Rahul Kalia, a local leader of the Congress, and Bhanu Partap, a BJP councillor of Ward No. 3 in Kurali.

A case under Section 126-B of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, and Sections 188 and 201 of the IPC has been registered against the duo at the Kurali police station.

Giving information, Mohali Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Gurpreet Kaur Sapra said Kalia uploaded his video of casting vote at booth number 150 in the Kharar segment of the Sri Anandpur Sahib Constituency on Facebook live today.

“When the matter came into our notice, we immediately initiated action by first removing the video from Facebook and then booked him under the appropriate sections of the RP Act and the Indian Penal Code,” said Sapra.

Partap was also caught in a case of similar nature.

The Election Commission of India, the Punjab Chief Election Officer, the election observer and the returning officer concerned have been informed about the matter by the local authorities.

Sapra said she had asked Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police Harcharan Singh Bhullar to direct the cyber crime cell also to initiate action in the matter.

“A report in this regard has also been sought from the SSP,” said Sapra.

After the incident, Sapra immediately removed presiding officer Joginder Singh from his duty and asked the SDM of the area to submit the report to her.

“I have also asked the police why frisking of the suspects was not done immediately,” Sapra said.

Presiding officer removed

After the incident, Mohali Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Gurpreet Kaur Sapra immediately removed presiding officer Joginder Singh from his duty and asked the SDM of the area to submit the report to her.