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Economic Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Poll panel tightens watch on voter IDs in West Bengal
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is directly monitoring and maintaining strict vigil over the disposal and issuance of EPIC-related documents by Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) in West Bengal. This follows allegations of duplicate EPIC cards made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the cancellation of 7,800 such cards in May alone. FIRs have been filed against three individuals, and assistant system manager of Kakdwip subdivision, Arun Gorain, has been suspended for "dereliction of duty" in South 24 Parganas placed sources in the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, confirmed to ET that surveillance has been intensified following the allegations. FIRs were lodged against three persons, including Gorain, who was suspended on May 15 for alleged gross misconduct. He reportedly changed the mobile number of the AERO to his own in the system. Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against him based on a report by the District Election Officer. Gorain has since moved the Calcutta High following the busting of several fake passport rackets in the state, the Election Commission is receiving a growing number of EPIC verification queries from the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) and police."For passport-related applications, we are now being asked to confirm complete EPIC information. In May, we received at least 25 such queries, and 80% of them turned out to be fake," a senior EC official told ET on condition of anonymity. "Daily, we receive multiple letters seeking verification of whether an EPIC was issued by us before a passport is granted," the official added.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer seeks registration officers' login data after voter roll fraud scandal in Kakdwip
Office of Chief electoral Officer-West Bengal has sought log-in ids of all Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), including Namkhana Block, from the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the aftermath of suspension of assistant system manager of Kakdwip subdivision, where FIRs were lodged against three persons for 'dereliction of duty' in Kakdwip subdivision in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, EC sources said. Arun Gorain, assistant system manager of Kakdwip subdivision, was suspended for alleged gross misconduct on May 15. Gorain allegedly committed fraudulent activity by changing the mobile number of AERO, replacing it by his own mobile number. Following the report received from the District Election Officer, South 24 Parganas, apart from suspension, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against him. The FIRs were lodged against three persons, including Gorain and a probe was started. The probe will be completed within three months in connection to the incident, people in the know told ET. Gorain allegedly unauthorisedly inserted his mobile number into the login credentials of the AERO for Assembly Constituency 131 (Kakdwip). Using the OTP received on his mobile, he allegedly disposed of applications filed under Forms 6, 7, and 8 through the AERO's login, sources said. According to Election Commission sources, a letter has been sent to the ECI by the Bengal CEO's office in this regard, seeking the log in Ids. Earlier the log in ids were in possession of AEROs and ECI, not with Election Commissions in the states. But following the incident, West Bengal CEO's office has sought the log in ids, people in the know told ET. Live Events West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal told ET that 'strongest action will be taken against persons in case of any lacuna and dereliction of duty .' 'Purity of electoral rolls is as good as conduct of elections,' the Bengal CEO Agarwal pointed out. Following this incident, the WB CEO held meetings with every level of officers, including every level from DEOs, AROs, AEROs to the level of Data entry operators of all 25 districts, sources LoP Suvendu Adhikari, with a delegation, met CEO-Bengal and submitted a letter with the request for "taking immediate steps with regard to conduct free and fair Election by special measures by removing existing District Administration, removing Civic Volunteers from the entire electoral process and recommend for CBI Enquiry for which the FIR lodged at Harwood Point Coastal Police Station, Sundarban Police District over the manipulation of electoral rolls by illegal entry of the names of Bangladeshi Foreigners in the Voter List." Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
