State Election Commissioner tells Punjab DGP to probe audio clip alleging bid to foil nominations

State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari has sought a report from the Punjab DGP on the audio clip purportedly containing a discussion between Patiala police officers on strategies to prevent opposition leaders from filing nomination for the zila parishad and panchayat samiti polls.

“The commission is apprised of the matter and has sought a report from the DGP…. Patiala DIG Kuldeep Chahal has also written to us calling the audio clip fake and generated through AI, and that an FIR had been registered for the offence,” Chaudhari told The Tribune. Following directions from the State Election Commissioner, the DGP has asked ADGP SPS Parmar to look into the audio controversy. The clip came out today on the last day of filing of nominations for the December 14 elections.

As many as 1,865 nominations have been filed for the 22 zila parishads (1,580 filed today) and 12,359 for the 153 panchayat samitis (10,585 filed today). The last date for withdrawal is December 6.

Meanwhile, sporadic incidents of people running away with nomination papers of candidates of opposition parties were reported in Ghanaur, Sanaur, Samana, Rajpura and Nabha (all in Patiala district) and a few other parts of the state.

At places like Dera Baba Nanak, a scuffle broke out between Congress and AAP workers. In Majitha, there was a heated exchange between SAD and AAP activists.

Chaudhari said he would seek a report on these incidents from the District Electoral Officers concerned. “Most districts have been incident-free. The nomination process ended smoothly in most parts,” he said.