The Election Commission of India (ECI) has summoned West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to appear in Delhi by 5 PM on August 13 over his refusal to suspend officials accused of voter list fraud.
The move comes a day after the state informed the ECI that it would not act against the accused officers, despite the poll panel’s August 5 directive to suspend four officials and file FIRs over the alleged illegal registration of 127 voters in Baruipur Purba and Moyna Assembly constituencies.
Pant, in his communication to the ECI, called the suspension order “disproportionately harsh” and claimed it would “demoralise” state officials. The ECI, however, reiterated its demand, citing a lack of compliance.
The accused include two West Bengal Civil Service officers, two Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, and a data entry operator, all linked to alleged electoral roll manipulation using falsified documents.
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