After the Supreme Court rebuked the returning officer, Anil Masih, holding him responsible for ‘defacing the ballot papers’ in the Chandigarh Mayor elections, a new video has surfaced on social media.
In the video, Anil Masih can be seen ticking the ballot papers while glancing at the CCTV camera installed in the hall. The footage has raised concerns about the fairness of the January 30 elections, where the BJP emerged as the winner.
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The video intensifies the scrutiny of the presiding officer’s conduct during the mayoral election, sparking worries about the genuineness and integrity of the entire electoral process.
The release of this video came hours after the Supreme Court admonished the Returning Officer for the evident defacement of ballot papers, calling for his prosecution. The public and authorities are closely examining Masih’s actions, especially given his conscious acknowledgment of the CCTV camera while handling the papers.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, who headed a three-judge Division bench, expressed his appall at Masih’s actions, stating that it amounted to ‘murder’ and ‘mockery’ of democracy.
Chief Justice Chandrachud remarked, “It is obvious that he has defaced the ballot papers. He needs to be prosecuted. Why is he looking at the camera? This is a mockery of democracy and murdering democracy. We are appalled. Is this behavior of a returning officer? Wherever there is a cross at the bottom, he does not touch it, and when it is at the top, he alters it. Please tell the returning officer that the Supreme Court is watching him,” Bar and Bench reported.
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During the hearing, the Court inquired about the status of the Returning Officer, whether he is considered an officer or a fugitive. The Court also mandated the preservation of ballots and video footage of the poll proceedings. Furthermore, Anil Masih has been summoned for a personal appearance in the Chandigarh mayoral polls case during the next hearing scheduled for February 19.
The Chandigarh mayor polls took place on January 30, with BJP’s Manoj Sonkar securing the mayoral position with 16 votes, while the AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar received 12 votes. Despite the AAP-Congress alliance having a majority in the house with 20 members, eight votes from the alliance were rejected as invalid.
Kumar alleged fraud in the BJP’s victory and forgery in the rejection of the eight votes. The Supreme Court took up Kumar’s plea after the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued notice but listed the matter for hearing after three weeks.
In his petition, Kumar accused the Presiding Officer Anil Masih of refusing to allow party nominees to monitor the vote counting. The plea further claimed that video evidence revealed the officer’s deliberate attempt to create confusion and compromise the election process through forgery and tampering.