Odisha CEO Asks District Election Officer To Probe Viral ‘Begunia Polling Booth’ Video

Bhubaneswar: The Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, Nikunja Bihari Dhal on Tuesday directed District Election Officer (DEO), Khurda, to conduct an inquiry into a video, relating to a polling station in Begunia Assembly constituency, circulating on electronic media and social media platforms.

He further stated that live webcasting is arranged in about 60% booths in Odisha. “It is viewed in the control rooms of CEO, DEOs, and Returning Officers. The DEO is the custodian of the web casting records. Hence, the DEO, Khurda, should conduct an immediate inquiry and clarify the matter,” the press release issued by his office said.

To prove Chilika MLA Prashant Jadgev’s innocence in the EVM toppling case, BJP leader Aparajita Sarangi, earlier in the day, shared a purported CCTV footage of the polling station in Bolagarh block under Begunia assembly constituency, where the incident took place during the third phase of voting in Odisha on May 25, on her Facebook account.

Also Read: Aparajita Sarangi Shares CCTV Footage To Prove Prashant Jagdev’s Innocence In EVM Toppling Case

Prior to that, Aparajita also spoke about three evidence to prove that Jagdev had no role in toppling the EVM. “Today, I have received the CCTV footage and it will be made public soon. I also have an audio of BJD worker stating the same. Banamali babu (her driver) has already told the media that he was threatened by police to name the MLA as the culprit in the case,” she told a presser.

She added that the name of the person who toppled the EVM will be revealed soon.

Also Read: Prashant Jagdev Innocent; Have CCTV Footage & Audio Evidence, Says Aparajita Sarangi

The BJP MLA candidate from Khurda was arrested on May 26 and sent to judicial custody till June 7 for allegedly vandalising an EVM and assaulting polling personnel at booth number 114 at Kaunripatana upper primary school, where he is registered as a voter. It was alleged that the EVM fell down after the BJP leader kicked the table on which the ballot unit was kept.

Police further said that Jagdev was seen manhandling a woman polling staff and the presiding officer in the webcasting system at the polling booth due to which the polling process was disrupted for some time. “The CCTV footage of the booth will also be examined and further action will be taken accordingly,” ADG Law and Order Sanjay Kumar had then said.

Villagers of Kaunripatana has then claimed that the allegations levelled against the MLA were politically-motivated.