Google Search for Web:

Kajal Agrawal

Election Commission accused of sharing electoral roll with Delhi Police after riots in capital Featured

  25 अगस्त 2020

The Delhi Police wanted to procure a digital copy of the electoral roll as it wanted to use a software to match the faces digitally to its list of riot suspects, said reports.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had allegedly shared photos and addresses of all the residents of north-east Delhi with police after the February 2020 pogrom. This is in contravention to the rules of the Commission. However, the ECI denies the charge.

According to a letter put out by activist Saket Gokhale, Under Secretary Rajan Agarwal had directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi to ‘display the electoral roll along with images of electors of north-east Parliamentary constituency with the Delhi Police.

The letter by Agarwal stated, “I am directed to refer to your letter dated 06.03.2020, on the subject cited, and to state that the electoral database of entire AC/District should not be shared with the Police Authorities in accordance with the Commission’s prevailing policy and practice. 

The Commission, keeping in view of the request of Delhi Police that photographs of electors, as available in the electoral roll of North-East Shahdara and East Delhi Districts are to be matched with the photographs of culprits captured through CCTV and other video footage available with the investigation team of recent incidence of violence in Delhi, has directed to advise CEO Delhi to display the electoral roll along with images of electors of North-East Parliamentary Constituency before the investigating officer in his office. Action be taken accordingly.”

The Delhi Police had sought the digital electoral database of three districts in north-east Delhi where the pogrom had happened in February in connection with their investigation. The Delhi Police has come under severe criticism for inaction against BJP and Hindu leaders for their role in the communal violence in the area. They had approached the state Chief Electoral Officer, and the Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava had also written to the poll panel in the first week of March.

The Delhi Police wanted to procure a digital copy of the electoral roll as it wanted to use a software to match the faces digitally to its list of riot suspects, said reports.

The EC issued a press statement saying that it had followed original guidelines of 2008 and clarificatory orders of 2020 on sharing of electoral roll and EPIC database with various government departments.

“It is hereby clarified in view of the anecdotal reports which are not based on empirical facts, that the Commission has not in any way deviated from the original guidelines of 2008 and clarificatory orders of 2020 in any manner,” said the EC.

“It also needs to be stated that as far as criminal investigations by regulatory departments/ enforcement agencies is concerned, it is under their own extant Acts, Rules and guidelines, which in any case can be challenged in the Hon’ble Courts of law. In fact, the entire super structure of criminal justice system is erected on this. It is only when the Model Code of Conduct is enforced that Election Commission invariably takes note of any such event(s)/ incident(s), which have the potential of disturbing and/ or disrupting the smooth conduct of electoral process and ECI does not interfere in the day to day functioning of the regulatory departments/enforcement agencies,” the statement said.
 
 

What is emergency defence procurement po…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

Amidst Operation Sindoor, Indian defence forces are set for emergency purchases worth Rs 40,000 crore to bolster combat readiness. The approved spending prioritises critical equipment like surveillance and kamikaze drones...

Read more

How YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra's own video …

17-05-2025

Sample Image

YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, known as Travel With Jo, has been arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan. A video from an Iftar dinner at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi...

Read more

Uttarakhand CM Dhami launches e-Rupi sys…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the 'e-Rupi' system, a digital payment initiative for farmers, alongside four agricultural policies aimed at boosting the state's agricultural sector. The e-Rupi system...

Read more

'Misrepresentation of facts': MEA clarif…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

The ministry of external affairs has refuted Rahul Gandhi's allegations that Jaishankar informed Pakistan prior to Operation Sindoor. MEA clarified that Pakistan was warned at the early phase after the...

Read more

India seeks peace, but has strength to t…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat asserted that India is dedicated to global peace but possesses the strength to retaliate if provoked. He highlighted India's commitment to global welfare, emphasising that the...

Read more

Espionage case: Arrested Haryana YouTube…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan, accused of sharing sensitive information with a Pakistani official later expelled for espionage. Her YouTube channel documented visits to...

Read more

How India used 'dummy pilotless aircraft…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

On May 9-10, the Indian Air Force decimated 11 Pakistani airbases in retaliation for attacks on 26 Indian locations following "Operation Sindoor." India's air defenses successfully countered Pakistan's initial strikes...

Read more

Setback for AAP in Delhi MCD as 13 counc…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

In a setback for the Aam Aadmi Party, 13 MCD councillors resigned, forming the Indraprastha Vikas Party, citing lack of development and internal strife. Led by Mukesh Goyal, the new...

Read more

'Centre chose who they felt appropriate…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

Shashi Tharoor addressed his inclusion in an all-party delegation despite not being nominated by the Congress, stating the government chose who they deemed fit. He affirmed his commitment to the...

Read more

Informing Pakistan before Operation Sind…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the government of informing Pakistan in advance about strikes on terror infrastructure under Operation Sindoor, calling it a "crime." He questioned the authorisation and...

Read more

India's Operation Sindoor diplomacy: Why…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

Shashi Tharoor's inclusion in the Operation Sindoor outreach program has sparked controversy, with the Congress party distancing itself from his pro-government stance on the India-Pakistan issue. Despite Congress suggesting other...

Read more

Who is Jyoti Malhotra, Travel YouTuber a…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

Jyoti Malhotra, a travel vlogger from Haryana, has been arrested. She is accused of sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives. Malhotra, known as “Travel with Jo,” allegedly contacted Pakistani...

Read more

'For national security': Himanta Sarma u…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged Rahul Gandhi to exclude a Congress MP from Assam, allegedly Gaurav Gogoi, from a delegation meant to expose Pakistan's terrorism. Sarma alleges Gogoi...

Read more

'Confront Pakistan but ... ': AIMIM chie…

17-05-2025

Sample Image

Asaduddin Owaisi urges the Indian government to seize the opportunity presented by spontaneous anti-Pakistan protests in Kashmir following the Pahalgam attack. He advises PM Modi and Amit Shah to embrace...

Read more

Headlines

Priyanka Gandhi:

YouTubeBox _A

NRI News:

Currency Rates

YouTubeBox _K

World COVID-19

Poll:

Who will win 2024 General Election in India?