Uttar Pradesh CEO Orders Action Over Pilibhit Voter Roll Discrepancies
Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa ordered legal action and a statewide voter list review after allegations of mass voter manipulation in Pilibhit.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa has ordered legal action and the immediate removal of the Electoral Registration Officer and a registration centre operator in Pilibhit. The decision follows an investigation into Assembly Constituency 127, which confirmed that searching certain Electoral Photo Identity Card numbers online displayed the details of other voters.
The action stems from allegations by the Indian National Congress that 16,554 votes were manipulated in Pilibhit Sadar. The party claims 13,150 names—primarily Muslim men—were changed without authorization, over 800 residents were deleted, and 2,600 non-residents were added. Congress leaders allege the system allows for the manipulation of election outcomes and have sought intervention from the Supreme Court.
In response to the findings, Rinwa directed all District Election Officers across Uttar Pradesh to conduct a thorough review of voter lists and submit reports within two days. Legal proceedings are being initiated under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
