Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 06 March 2024
South Andaman District Police have recently registered a case regarding the submission of false information in Form-7, as reported by the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer/Tehsildar, Port Blair, on February 22, 2024.
According to the complaint lodged by the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer/Tehsildar, Port Blair, addressed to the Station House Officer (SHO), PS Aberdeen, unknown individuals were accused of filing for deletions of various names listed in the Electoral Roll through online voter’s helpline apps. It was alleged that during the door-to-door survey conducted by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for the preparation of the Electoral Roll, all individuals whose names were proposed for deletion through online mode were found to be alive and residing in the same area.
In response to the complaint, a preliminary inquiry was initiated by the authorities. Statements from the BLOs were recorded, and Form-7, the application form for objections to proposed inclusion/deletion of names in the existing electoral roll, was obtained. It was highlighted that any false statement made in the declaration portion of Form-7 is punishable under Section 31 of the Representation of People Act, 1950. Additionally, applicants are required to provide their own details as per rules 13(2) of the Registration of Electors Rules-1960 when raising objections to the inclusion of a name in the electoral roll.
The preliminary inquiry, based on information provided in Form-7 and the BLOs’ door-to-door survey, revealed that false information was furnished in Form-7 through impersonation. Consequently, an FIR (First Information Report) No. 40/24, dated February 4, 2024, under Section 419 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), read with Section 31 of the Representation of People Act, 1950, has been registered at PS Aberdeen against users of mobile numbers provided by the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer/Tehsildar in the complaint. The case is currently under investigation.
The general public has been urged to share information related to illegal activities and other crimes with the police at 112, 03192-232100, 03192-236641, and 03192-232400. The identity of the informant will be kept confidential.