Ernakulam Collector orders criminal proceedings against 42 for enrolling in voters list using fake documents

District Collector G. Priyanka on Friday ordered initiation of criminal proceedings against 42 people who had enrolled in the electoral roll allegedly using fake residency documents, and the officials who had colluded with them.

The Collector instructed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kochi City) to initiate action against the officials for not taking timely action over complaints citing irregularities in enrolling voters, Ernakulam MLA T.J. Vinod said on Friday.

The Collector issued the order on a complaint raised by Henry Austin, who represents Division 25 of the Kochi Corporation.

According to Mr. Austin, the Congress had filed a complaint against the attempt to enrol 60 voters in five booths in his division using 15 rental agreements made using photocopies of four stamp papers. He said 18 of the voters were excluded from the list following official inquiry, while it was confirmed during a hearing conducted on November 10 and 11 that the remaining 42 voters were added to the list.

The election cell in the district had recommended to remove their names from the list and book them in criminal cases after they failed to appear for the hearing. He said the officials could not remove the names as the Election Commission had locked the list. The Commission had on November 26 issued an order that cases of irregularities in the voter rolls could be considered only after the elections.

Mr. Austin approached the Collector on Friday after it became clear during a hearing conducted by the electoral registration officer at Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, that the names of the 42 voters will remain on the list.