Maharashtra bypolls: Palghar EVMs sent in private car to strongroom
Palghar (Maharashtra), May 29 : After polling ended in the Palghar Lok Sabha bye-elections on Monday night, a polling officer in Maharashtra broke protocol and transported the confidential VVPAT-EVMs by his private car to the strongroom, early on Tuesday.
Confirming the incident, Palghar Collector Prashant Narnaware said that a report has been received from the election Zonal Office and a detailed investigation has been ordered through by the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) of the area.
According to available information, the concerned official, apparently tired of waiting for the bus, called for his own private car from home. It is not clear whether he was accompanied by any security personnel on this venture.
The Collector concurred that it was indeed "a serious lapse" since, after the voting in any elections, "the EVM-VVPATs are considered sacrosanct" and cannot be moved around anywhere in such an unauthorized manner.
"As per the guidelines, after voting is completed, a special bus is sent to pick up all the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail-Electronic Voting Machines from all the polling centres.
"Each bus has a specific route by which it travels, picks up the machines and takes them to the ARO office. In this case, the laid down procedures were not followed by the concerned officer," Narnaware told IANS.
The officer, whose name has not yet been made known, was the polling officer at Chinchani polling station in Dahanu sub-district.
He loaded a couple of EVM-VVPATs on the rear seat and drove off to the ARO's office early on Tuesday to deposit them in the strongroom before the counting process is undertaken on May 31.
When the shocking development came to light, whips were cracked and a police complaint is set to be lodged against the officer and others.
The high-stakes bye-elections to the Palghar Lok Sabha, along with Bhandara-Gondiya, were held on Monday, amidst widespread incidents of malfunctioning EVM-VVPATs and allegations of foul play by all opposition parties and ruling ally Shiv Sena.
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316 domestic LPG cylinders used for commercial purposes seized in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Department said on Saturday that authorities have seized 316 domestic LPG cylinders allegedly being used for commercial purposes across the state and registered cases against those involved.
Also, a case has been registered against a gas agency which was illegally refilling gas cylinders.
"Following the minister's (K H Muniyappa) instructions to take appropriate legal action if domestic cylinders are used for commercial purposes, cases have been registered under the Essential Commodities Act and seizures have been made across the state, including 45 in Peenya and 209 in Chikkajala of Bengaluru, 3 in Shivamogga district, 46 in Davanagere and 13 in Yadgir district," the department said in a release.
Similarly, a case has been registered against a gas agency shop in KGF, Kolar district, which was conducting illegal refilling of gas cylinders, it said.
As per the central government guidelines, 20 per cent of the total commercial cylinders will be distributed to hospitals, schools, educational institutions, airports, railway stations, bus stands, canteens, important temples for distribution of prasad, government offices, old age homes, and important private sector offices on priority, the department said.
Further, it said that a total of 3,86,363 domestic cylinders (14.2 kg) and 6,371 commercial cylinders have been distributed across the state today. Steps have been taken to ensure that there is no problem with the supply of domestic cylinders, it added.
