May 09, 2018: Nearly 10,000 voter ID cards seized from a flat in Bengaluru; Police and the Election Commission launch probe; 2 arrested in the case; Election Commission says the Voter ID cards are genuine; BJP demands countermanding elections on the Raj Rajeshwari Assembly seat; Congress also complains to the EC.
Election campaign in Karnataka is at its peak in the last phase and political parties are going all out to win the people’s trust.
However, with just 3 days to go for the polls, a massive controversy rocked Karnataka after nearly 10,000 “fake” voter ID cards were seized from a flat in Raj Rajeshwari Assembly seat. It prompted the BJP to demand countermanding of the election claiming Congress was behind the racket, a charge dismissed by the latter as a “lie”.
Meanwhile, officials of the Karnataka State Election Commission visited the flat and took possession of the goods including the voter cards.
The ID cards are of actual electors and appear to be genuine. A FIR has been registered in the matter and probe is on. 2 arrests have also been made. The EC has not taken any decision on the countermanding polling on the seat so far. A team of headed by Deputy Election Commissioner will be visiting Bengaluru after which a final call will be taken.
According to the police, the seized voter ID cards were kept wrapped in paper in an apartment in Jalahalli area of Bengaluru. Apart from the IDs, the police has recovered computers, printers and other printing material from the same spot.
The flat is in the name of Manjula Nanjamuri and at this time a youth named Rakesh is renting it. The landlord’s family claimed they had given the house to the tenant and was not interested in politics.
Meanwhile, BJP has said that Congress is losing support and is adopting unethical and undemocratic methods to win the elections.
The state goes to poll on the 12th and before that heavy recovery of liquor and cash continues. So far, about 80 crore rupees have been recovered. But the seizure of the Voter IDs has snowballed into a major controversy.
The Election Commission remains committed to holding free and fair elections in the state and all efforts are being made to ensure no one vitiates its sanctity. (DD News)
