Village Head's Son Detained for Multiple Voting in UP Election, Repoll on May 25

In a significant development from Uttar Pradesh, a 17-year-old has been detained for allegedly casting multiple votes during the fourth phase of polling in the Farrukhabad constituency on May 13. This incident, which took place at booth number 343 in the Primary school of Khiriya Pamaran, has led to the decision for repolling scheduled on May 25.

The controversy came to light after a video showcasing the teenager, identified as the son of Khiriya Pamaran village head Anil Thakur, pressing the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) button several times went viral on social media. The video was notably shared by prominent political figures including Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

In response to the incident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa announced that repolling at the affected booth will occur between 7 am and 6 pm on May 25. This decision follows a recommendation sent to the Election Commission of India concerning the need for repolling due to the alleged voting malpractice.

Naval Kishore Shakya, the SP candidate from Farrukhabad, lodged a formal complaint leading to a case being registered under the Representation of Peoples Act and IT Act. The teenager involved in this incident has been detained and is currently in a rehabilitation centre in Etah as per police reports.

Farrukhabad District Magistrate V K Singh confirmed that an FIR was registered following a complaint by the assistant returning officer, prompted by the video's circulation. CEO Rinwa also stated that disciplinary actions are being taken against all members of the polling party present during the incident. Furthermore, he emphasized that strict instructions have been issued to ensure rigorous adherence to voter identification procedures in future polling phases across the state.

The Farrukhabad Lok Sabha seat comprises four assembly segments within Farrukhabad district and one in Etah district. The incident has sparked concerns over voting integrity and prompted authorities to take stringent measures to prevent similar occurrences in upcoming elections.