Chandigarh mayoral polls: New video of Returning Officer ticking ballots surfaces

In yet another twist to the Chandigarh mayoral election controversy, a new and clear video has emerged on social media in which the Presiding Officer Anil Masih can be seen signing the ballot papers as a CCTV camera installed in the hall captured him.

The footage captures Anil Masih ticking the ballot papers while glancing at the CCTV camera, raising concerns about the fairness of the elections held on January 30 in which the BJP emerged as the winner.

The new video, captured from the top angle of the CCTV camera, was also shared by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal who claimed that Masih had been caught red-handed.

The latest video started doing rounds hours after the Supreme Court rapped the Returning Officer, observing it is obvious he defaced the ballot papers and that he should be prosecuted, adding his action amounted to ‘murder’ and ‘mockery’ of democracy.

“Will not allow democracy to be murdered like this and that the apex court will order fresh elections if not satisfied with the purity of the poll process,” an ‘appalled’ Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, who headed a three-judge Division bench, said.

Inquiring about the status of the Returning Officer (RO) as either an officer or a fugitive, the court has additionally mandated the preservation of ballots and video footage of the poll proceedings. Additionally, the Supreme Court has also summoned Anil Masih for a personal appearance in the Chandigarh mayoral polls case during the next hearing scheduled for February 19.

“It is obvious that he(the RO) has defaced the ballot papers. This man should be prosecuted. Look, why is he looking at the camera? Mr Solicitor (General), this is a mockery of democracy and murdering democracy, we are appalled. Is this the behaviour of a returning officer,” Justice Chandrachud observed.

The Supreme Court’s directive came after AAP moved the top court challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that refused to grant any interim relief to the party seeking fresh mayoral polls in Chandigarh.

The BJP swept the Chandigarh mayoral polls on January 30, retaining all three posts, defeating the Congress-AAP alliance.