EC asks Tejashwi to hand over his EPIC card for investigation as it was not issued officially
Patna, Aug 3 (PTI): The Election Commission on Sunday asked RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to “hand over for investigation” a voter ID card that he claimed to be in possession of despite having been “not issued officially”.
The leader of the opposition in the Bihar assembly had on Saturday demonstrated an online search, with the EPIC number, to claim that his name was missing in the draft electoral rolls published as part of special intensive revision (SIR) and, upon rebuttal from the authorities concerned, alleged that his voter ID card number was “changed”.
In a letter addressed to the former deputy CM, the Sub Divisional Magistrate of Patna Sadar-cum-Electoral Registration Officer for Digha assembly constituency said, “Our preliminary investigation suggests that the EPIC number you mentioned at the press conference on August 2 was not issued officially. You are therefore requested to hand over the EPIC card in original for detailed investigation”.
The RJD leader, thereafter, alleged that his EPIC number had been "changed", but District Magistrate Thiyagaraja S M repudiated the claim.
"The EPIC number in the electoral rolls is the one that was submitted by the honourable leader of the opposition in his affidavit in the 2020 assembly polls. If he is in possession of another EPIC card with another number as well, then it is a matter of investigation," the district magistrate said.
Meanwhile, at a press conference here, spokespersons of the ruling NDA in the state Ajay Alok (BJP), Neeraj Kumar (JDU) and Rajesh Bhatt (Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas), among others, demanded that a case be registered against the RJD leader.
They said Yadav should be booked for having two EPIC cards, which is not allowed.
The NDA functionaries said they want to know from his alliance partner Rahul Gandhi whether this "fraud" by the RJD leader is the "atom bomb" he was threatening the Election Commission with.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday claimed that his party has an "atom bomb" of evidence to prove "vote chori" by the Election Commission for the BJP.
The NDA leaders claimed that the INDIA bloc was "staring at a certain defeat" in the upcoming assembly polls, and its leaders are trying to look for an "excuse", by raising doubts over the special intensive revision carried out by the EC.
It was comparable to "anticipatory bails sought by criminals", they claimed.
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
