\"MP: 17 Voters Booked for Taking Pictures of EVMs, Making Them Viral on Social Media\"

BHOPAL: In a first of its kind case, 17 voters of Sironj assembly constituency in Madhya Pradesh’s Vidisha district have been booked on charges of violating election code of conduct by taking pictures of EVMs while casting their votes and then making them viral on various social media platforms.

According to the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of the district Harshlal Chaudhary, an FIR was filed against the 17 voters in connection with the incident based on a complaint by some social activists.

The complainants took the matter to the police saying that such actions by these voters amounted to defiling the sanctity of the electoral process, a senior district officer said on Thursday.

Such actions violated provisions of the Representation of People Act, the complainants said.

An FIR was filed against the 17 voters on Thursday, police said.

Under the EC regulations, mobile phones and cameras are prohibited within the polling stations.

However, the voters who took pictures of the EVMs had carried their cell phones to the booths disregarding the EC rules, the complainants said.

“The local administration has taken cognizance of the matter and promptly filed an FIR against the 17 voters. Necessary action will be taken against them as per the law”, Mr Chaudhary said.

This was for the first time; voters were booked for taking pictures of EVMs while casting their votes and then making them viral on various social media platforms.

Officials probing the matter said that the alleged erring voters might not be aware of the EC guidelines in this connection.

“A probe is on into the matter”, official sources said.

Meanwhile, chief electoral officer (CEO) of Madhya Pradesh Anupam Rajan has started moving around the state to take stock of the security arrangements in the strong rooms where the EVMs have been kept in different parts of the state.

In another development, Congress workers were seen camping outside the strong rooms in their respective localities to ensure that they were not breached by vested interests, reports reaching from various parts of the state said.