Hyderabad – Congress’s own Navin Yadav has been booked by police after he handed out EPIC cards to voters in an effort that could influence the upcoming by‑election in the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency. The arrest took place at Madhura Nagar Police Station on a complaint from Electoral Registration Officer G. Rajinikanth Reddy.
The police case cites sections 170, 171 and 174 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sections 123 (1) and 123 (2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. These sections deal with corrupt practices such as bribery and undue influence of voters.
Navin Yadav, one of three candidates shortlisted by the Telangana Congress, is expected to be nominated as the party’s candidate by its national leadership. The Election Commission of India said the by‑election will be held on November 11, following the death of the sitting MLA, Maganti Gopinath of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
The Election Commission said the EPIC cards were distributed during a public event called “Voter Cards Distribution Programme,” held at the Congress Office near Yousufguda Check‑post. The event took place before the Dasara festival, before the formal complaint was lodged, and was attended by party leaders with campaign banners displayed. That suggests the card hand‑outs were aimed at influencing voters, which falls under election law violations.
The issue first surfaced in a local Telugu newspaper. A formal complaint was then filed on October 6 by MP Raghunandan Rao from Medak. The Electoral Registration Officer submitted a written report later that evening, and the police registered an FIR against Yadav.
Investigators say Yadav allegedly got electronic EPIC copies from existing cardholders, had them printed and laminated, and distributed them to voters. Photos and videos from the event show the cards lack the official hologram required on legitimate EPICs.
The by‑election’s need came after the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath in June. For now, the case against Navin Yadav adds a new twist to a high‑profile political race in Hyderabad, drawing attention to the integrity of voting procedures and the serious penalties for election fraud.
Source: ianslive
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