Will you apologise now? Netizens ask news anchor Sushant Sinha for giving clean chit to Anil Masih
Anil Masih admitted in SC of tampering with ballot papers in Chandigarh mayoral polls
New Delhi: In what turned out to be major development on Monday regarding the alleged ballot paper tampering during last month's Chandigarh mayoral election, Times Now Navbharat news anchor Sushant Sinha has found himself in the spotlight. Sinha, who also runs a YouTube channel, had staunchly defended the Chandigarh returning officer, Anil Masih, in the face of damning accusations.
Masih had been accused of putting marks on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress votes, a claim that gained traction when CCTV footage surfaced, seemingly showing Masih tampering with ballot papers. Sinha, however, had come to Masih's defense, suggesting that the video portrayed a routine electoral process rather than intentional tampering. He insinuated that the opposition, particularly the BJP's rivals, was manipulating the narrative to their advantage.
The tables have now turned as Anil Masih has admitted to adding a mark on eight cast ballots that he later declared invalid. These marked ballots played a crucial role in the victory of the now-resigned BJP mayor, Manoj Sonkar.
Masih attempted to justify his actions by claiming that he marked ballots that were already defaced by councillors during the voting process. According to Masih, these additional marks were meant to differentiate the ballots and prevent confusion.
However, the Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, rebuffed Masih's defense, pointing out that the rules did not provide for such additional markings on ballot papers. The bench emphasized that Masih's interference with the election process warranted prosecution.
The Supreme Court has now taken matters into its own hands, deciding to personally examine the ballots on Tuesday, February 20. The bench ordered the production of the ballot papers, currently in the custody of the registrar general of the Punjab and Haryana high court, for this purpose. Furthermore, the presiding officer, Anil Masih, has been directed to be present during the hearing.
In the wake of this development, social media users were quick to criticize Sushant Sinha for his earlier defense of Masih, particularly as the Supreme Court's actions were seen as a sharp rebuke to what has been dubbed 'Godi Media.' Sinha's initial support for Masih, now proven misguided, has drawn widespread condemnation on various social media platforms, with users questioning if Sinha will come out publicly to apologise for his actions of giving clean chit to Masih.
This guy @SushantBSinha defended Chandigarh returning officer when the whole world saw him putting marks on AAP & Congress votes.
— Amock (@Politics_2022_) February 19, 2024
Today, Anil Masih has accepted his fault and agreed that he cheated.
Will Sushant Sinha apologize for his B&D behavior?#ChandigarhMayorElection pic.twitter.com/nlz4hgvf0Q
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Three killed, three injured as car crashes into bridge in UP’s Balrampur
Balrampur (UP) (PTI): Three people died and as many were injured after their car crashed into a bridge on the Balrampur-Badhni national highway here early Sunday, police said.
The accident occurred near Purushottam village on the Tulsipur-Pachpedwa stretch when the car, carrying six people, crashed into the bridge, they said.
According to police, Adil (21) and Afroz (20), residents of Pachpedwa, died on the spot.
The injured, including Hashmi (21), were rushed to the district hospital, where Hashmi died.
The victims had gone to attend the Devi Patan Mela in Tulsipur on Saturday night and were returning home when the accident took place, the police added.
Tulsipur Circle Officer Jitendra Kumar said the bodies have been sent for post-mortem and further legal proceedings are underway.
Meanwhile, local SP MLA Rakesh Yadav visited the bereaved families and assured all possible assistance. He also demanded Rs 10 lakh ex gratia for each of the deceased, stating that all the victims belonged to economically weaker families.
