The Election Commission of India has been duped into issuing a fake voter ID to its own former chief and also to his deputy in the Telangana State before the recent Assembly elections. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detective Department) Avinash Mohanty is investigating the case.

 

According to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials, both former Chief Election Commissioner O. P. Rawat and Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana Rajat Kumar were shown in the IDs as having the same address with the same father’s name.  According to the details provided by GHMC officials to the city's central crime station, the applications were made online by providing fake Aadhaar IDs and false documents.

 

“Both Aadhaar cards were forged. They had the Aadhar number and the same house number in Mehdipatnam. Only the photos were changed,” said officials. Besides, genuine power bills were produced from the address, which were in the owner’s name. The electoral officials apparently did not follow the due procedure of door-to-door verification before enrolling them, and both the applications were accepted without scrutiny.

 

Had the polling slips been utilized, Rajat Kumar and Rawat would have voted at BC & Waddera Basthi Community Hall, MG Nagar of Masab Tank, part of Nampally Constituency.

 

An FIR was filed under relevant sections of Representation of People Act and the Information Technology Act, for crimes of forgery and impersonation.

 

“We have also recommended for initiation of disciplinary action against the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer whose duty it was to verify each applicant’s credentials. The Electoral Registration Officer has been asked to seek an explanation from the officials concerned for the negligence of duty,” officials said.