In a stern response to the alleged defacement of poll papers through the Chandigarh mayoral election, the Supreme Court has directed the prosecution of the returning officer, Anil Masih. The courtroom performed a listening to on Monday, following a petition highlighting alleged irregularities within the election, significantly after three AAP councillors switched allegiance to the BJP.

The election, held on January 30, noticed the BJP’s Manoj Sonkar securing victory towards AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar. However, controversy arose as 8 votes have been declared invalid, prompting intense scrutiny and accusations from the opposition.

A video depicting the Presiding Officer, Anil Masih, who’s a member of the BJP’s Minority Cell, seemingly marking on the poll papers of AAP councillors, circulated extensively on social media. This drew sharp criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party and its allies, who argued that Masih intentionally invalidated their votes, probably influencing the election leads to favor of the BJP.

The courtroom not solely expressed concern over the alleged defacement but additionally termed the ongoing political maneuvering as “horse-trading,” emphasizing its seriousness.

The alternate between Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Anil Masih through the listening to unfolded as follows:

CJI: Mr. Masih, I’m asking you questions. If you aren’t giving a truthful reply, you can be prosecuted. This is a severe matter. We have seen the video. What have been you doing trying on the digital camera placing out crosses on the poll papers? Why have been you placing marks?

Masih: After the voting, I needed to put indicators on the poll papers. The defaced ones needed to be segregated.

CJI: It could be very evident from the video that you simply have been placing X marks on sure poll papers. Did you place X marks on sure poll papers?

Masih: Yes.

CJI: On what number of poll papers marks have been put?

Masih: 8.

CJI: Why did you deface the poll papers? You needed to signal the papers solely. Where is it offered within the guidelines which you can put different marks within the poll papers

Masih: The poll papers have been defaced by the candidates, they snatched and destroyed…

CJI: Mr. Solicitor, he needs to be prosecuted. He is interfering with the election course of.

The courtroom has requested for the poll papers to be delivered to it for examination on Tuesday. After initially proposing that, as a substitute of finishing up a contemporary election, the votes have to be counted afresh by a brand new returning officer, the courtroom stated that it’ll determine on the problem after inspecting the poll papers.