Youth Congress Workers Arrested in Kerala for Alleged Use of Fake Voter ID Cards: Victim’s Name Yet to be Released

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Kerala Police Detain Three Youth Congress Workers Over Alleged Use of Fake Voter ID Cards

Kerala Police has taken three Youth Congress workers into custody on Tuesday, following suspicions of their involvement in the use of counterfeit voter ID cards during the recently concluded organisational polls. The police also seized laptops, mobile phones, and several fake election photo identification cards during the operation.

The controversy surrounding the alleged use of fake voter ID cards emerged just two days after the Youth Congress declared the results of its organisational poll. The elected president of the state organization, Rahul Mankoottathil, now faces severe scrutiny as the investigations unfold.

Prompted by multiple complaints received, the Chief Electoral Officer of the state directed the registration of a case in this matter. Subsequently, an eight-member special investigation team was formed to conduct an in-depth probe into the allegations of fake voter ID card usage during the Youth Congress organisational polls.

The three Youth Congress workers taken into custody have been identified as Abhi Vikram, Feny, and Binil Binu, according to a police official. An FIR has been registered against them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (using a forged document as genuine).

Earlier, the police had hinted at the possible involvement of a mobile application and its developer in the creation of these counterfeit IDs. The investigation into this matter is ongoing.

Expressing concern over the allegations, Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay M Kaul forwarded the received complaints to the state police chief on November 17, urging swift action against the culprits involved in this fraudulent activity.

The Youth Congress has vehemently denied these allegations. However, BJP state president K Surendran has accused a faction of the Congress in Kerala of orchestrating this scheme and highlighted the potential misuse of such fake voter ID cards in general elections and for acquiring SIM cards. Surendran further pointed fingers at a Congress MLA, claiming their involvement in developing the application used to create these counterfeit IDs. He also alleged that top Congress leaders, including KC Venugopal and VD Satheesan, were aware of the situation.

Reacting to the revelations, CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan emphasized the seriousness of the matter and called for a comprehensive and urgent investigation. The Left party has approached the Election Commission, expressing concerns over the potential threat posed to democracy through the use of fake voter ID cards.

As investigations continue to unfold, the Kerala Police aims to uncover the extent of this alleged scam and the individuals involved. The use of fake voter ID cards not only undermines the integrity of the electoral process but also raises serious questions about the credibility of the entire system.

Published By: Vadapalli Nithin Kumar
Published On: Nov 22, 2023.