Incident in Navi Mumbai leads to police investigation and suspension of five election officials amid political tensions.
In a significant political incident in Maharashtra, nearly 3,400 Enumeration Forms for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) were discovered at a photocopy shop in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. This revelation has prompted police intervention and the suspension of five Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The situation escalated when members of Shiv Sena (UBT) confronted an individual, purported to be associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who was reportedly using the shop to photocopy these forms.
The Chief Electoral Officer’s office in Maharashtra, along with the Raigad Collectorate, confirmed that the forms, which must be securely held by BLOs, were improperly found in the possession of a political party worker at the photocopy centre. Raigad Collector Kisan Jawale stated that this incident occurred in Sector 19 of Kharghar, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC).
According to reports, Prasad Dada Bhoir, the Raigad District Communication Head of Shiv Sena (UBT), lodged a complaint alleging that these forms were being duplicated at the site. Following investigations, it was established that the forms were retained by the BLOs, leading to their suspension and the initiation of legal actions under Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Furthermore, an FIR was registered against Suraj Patil, reportedly residing in Morbi village in Kharghar, concerning this issue. Later, the Deputy Commissioner of the PMC, Nanasaheb Kamate, and an Assistant Electoral Registration Officer of the Panvel Assembly Constituency were tasked with conducting further inquiries.
The incident has generated considerable political fallout, with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Rohit Pawar criticising the BJP. He claimed that the BJP’s activities surrounding the SIR campaign demonstrated a deceptive practice aimed at securing electoral advantage. Pawar stated, “This has made it clear how the SIR campaign is deceptive and merely nominal. We raised the issue with the Election Commission, but their response has been inadequate.” He called on citizens to voice their concerns regarding the ongoing situation.
As the investigation progresses, it remains to be seen how the Election Commission will respond to the allegations surrounding the SIR campaign and the involvement of political workers in this controversial episode.
