Man Arrested After Video Of Him Voting Eight Times In UP's Etah Goes Viral, Polling Officials Suspended

A man has been arrested from Uttar Pradesh’s Etah after his video of voting eight times for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) went viral. The state’s chief election officer has issued orders to suspend all the members of the polling party from the station.

The arrested youngster has been identified as Rajan Singh, a resident of the village of Khiriya Pamaran in Etah district.

According to officials, the incident was reported in Farrukhabad parliamentary constituency, and action was taken after the video went viral on social media on Sunday.

Several opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, posted about it on social media platform X.

Responding to Yadav’s post, Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa said an FIR of the incident was registered under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and Representation of the People Act, 1951, in Nayagaon police station in Etah district.

“The person appearing to be voting multiple times in the video has been identified as Rajan Singh, son of Anil Singh and resident of village Khiriya Pamaran. He has been arrested,” the CEO said.

The official also said instructions to “suspend and institute disciplinary proceedings” against all members of the polling party have been issued.

“⁠Repoll has been recommended to the ECI in the polling station concerned. ⁠Strict instructions to rigorously follow the procedure regarding identification of the voters have been issued to all District Election Officers of the remaining phases in UP,” the post reads.

The 2.20-minute video was posted by Yadav around 4 pm on Sunday. Yadav said that the ECI should take action if it feels that what is happening is wrong.

Later, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also posted and reacted on the same.

Minutes later, the official posted on X that cognisance of the circulating video had been taken. “Concerned District Election Officer has been directed to take prompt and effective action.”

As per the CEO, the man has been booked under Sections 171-F (Punishment for undue influence or personation at an election) and 419 (punishment for cheating by personation) of the IPC, and Sections 128, 132, and 136 of the RP Act 1951.

On Sunday evening, District Magistrate, Farrukhabad, also posted on X, saying that the FIR had been filed by the Assistant Returning Officer of the Aliganj assembly constituency under the Farrukhabad Lok Sabha. The seat went for polls on May 13 under the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha polls.

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