State files FIRs against four officials in line with EC directive

The Bengal government has finally initiated action against four state officials by registering FIRs against them, complying with the Election Commission of India’s directive within the stipulated deadline, official sources said on Tuesday.

The FIRs were lodged in accordance with the Election Commission of India’s instructions, the last date for compliance being Tuesday.

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Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty has written to the commission confirming that the directive has been implemented, sources at Nabanna said.

According to commission sources, the full Bench of the Election Commission, including Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, is currently in Assam. The matter will be examined in detail after the commission returns.

The controversy dates back to before the commencement of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list in West Bengal, when the four officials came under scrutiny over allegations of illegally enrolling names in the electoral rolls.

A data entry operator was also named in the same complaint. Following the uproar, the commission had directed that the officials be suspended.

The allegations centred on the inclusion of “fake” or “ghost” voters in the electoral rolls.

The commission had first flagged the issue in a letter to the state government on 5 August last year, followed by a reminder on 8 August.

As the directions were not implemented, the commission on 2 January instructed the two district magistrates concerned to register FIRs.

Despite two reminders from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, the directive was not complied with.

In the interim, Nabanna sought the opinion of the state Advocate General and subsequently wrote to the CEO’s office, arguing that the alleged offences were not serious enough to warrant FIRs and that such stringent action would be disproportionate.

However, citing continued non-compliance, they summoned the incumbent Chief Secretary to Nirvachan Sadan in Delhi last Friday.

On Saturday, it emerged that the Commission had granted the state time until Tuesday to register FIRs against the four officials.