Three poll officials have been arrested for allegedly preparing fake voter identity cards in Haryana's Gurgaon district, officials said today.
District Election Officer (DEO) Shekhar Vidyarthi ordered registration of FIRs against the three Booth Level Officers (BLOs) after they were purportedly shown taking bribe for preparing fake voter identity card in a sting operation by a private news channel last night, an official statement said here.
The three BLOs -- Ashok Kumar, BLO of Booth Number 83 and Karan Singh, BLO of Booth Number 86 in Laxman Vihar area, and Mahesh Kumar, BLO of Booth Number 3 in Mianwali colony -- have been arrested, it said, adding all of them have been booked under various Sections of the Representation of People's Act, 1950.
Besides the FIRs, Vidyarthi has also recommended disciplinary action against them to their parent departments.
As soon as information about the sting operation by a TV channel reached Vidyarthi, who is also Deputy Commissioner of Gurgaon, he directed the Electoral Registering Officer (ERO) of Gurgaon cum SDM, Om Prakash to conduct preliminary inquiry.
Following which, Vidyarthi ordered registration of FIR against all the three as per Election Commission guidelines. On the complaint of Om Prakash, FIRs were lodged last night, the statement said.
Meanwhile, all the FORM-6 (required for inclusion of names in the Electoral Rolls), which were collected by the accused BLOs have been taken into custody on the direction of DEO and District Election Office has initiated probe into the matter.
The work of distribution of voters' slips has also been withdrawn from the accused BLOs and assigned to another officials.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana Srikant Walgad and Election Commission of India have also been informed about the action taken in the case, it said.
