E-Paper
Lok Sabha elections 2019: EVMs, VVPATs found in Bihar hotel during polling, inquiry ordered
“Sector officer was given some reserved machines so that it could be replaced with faulty ones. After replacing EVMs he was left with 2 balloting unit,1 control unit and 2 VVPAT in his car,” District Magistrate Alok Ranjan Ghosh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Even as the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections was underway, a controversy of sorts erupted when 2 balloting units, a control unit and 2 VVPAT machines were found from a hotel in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur on Monday. Voting was held in Muzaffarpur on May 6.
District Magistrate Alok Ranjan Ghosh said that the machines recovered from the hotel were reserved machines that were to be used in case any faulty machines needed to be replaced.
“Sector officer was given some reserved machines so that it could be replaced with faulty ones. After replacing EVMs he was left with 2 balloting unit,1 control unit and 2 VVPAT in his car,” Ghosh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Also read: In 1 minute, SC rejects review plea by 21 parties to verify more VVPAT votes
He said that a departmental investigation would be conducted into the incident.
“He shouldn’t have unloaded the machines in the hotel which is against rules. Since he has violated an departmental investigation will be done,” he said.
Also read: Review plea by 21 parties to verify more VVPAT votes rejected by SC in 60 secs
On Monday, five seats in Bihar went to vote. These included Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Saran, Hajipur and Sitamarhi.
The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
