Aam Aadmi Party on Monday filed a complaint with the Election Commission regarding alleged “breach” in strong room where electronic voting machines (EVMs) of Gill assembly segment have been kept.
The complaint has been filed against the returning officer (RO) of Gill constituency Gagandeep Singh Virk.
At the same time, the party maintained that it would visit all the strong rooms across the state to check their status.
Party’s senior leader and renowned Supreme Court lawyer HS Phooka alleged that Returning Officer Gagandeep Singh Virk, along with five-six men, entered the strong room breaching the two-tier security at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), ludhiana.
Phoolka alleged that Virk and other men spend nearly half an hour in the strong room where the EVMs of Gill constituency were kept at around 11am.
“AAP volunteer spotted Virk along with other men entering the strong room in PAU and informed AAP leader Darshan Sharnkar, Suresh Goyal and candidate Jiwan Singh Sangowal. When AAP leaders gathered at the spot, Virk along with other men left the scene stating that they had left some valuables inside the strong room,” said Phoolka.
Phoolka, who also contested state polls from Dakha, maintained that so far, they have no clue of the whether the seals have been tempered with.
“The Election Commission and Police have been informed about the incident and AAP is proceeding a criminal trespass case against Virk,” he added.
Phoolka said that in the wake of such a development, “I have decided to visit all the strong rooms across the state to check its status”.
“Security of strong room is utmost important. The EVM machines of Gill constituency are kept in strong rooms in PAU. To enter the strong room is against law,” he said adding that a complaint has also been submitted to the police regarding criminal tresspass. “No procedure was followed by RO and the candidate was not informed. I challenge the Badals to mend their ways,” he added.
The concerned Returning Officer Virk said that they are supposed to ensure that everything is intact in the strong room. “And during every entry, it is not mandatory to take along the candidates,” he added.
Congress candidate from Gill Kuldeep Singh Vaid, however, said that strong room cannot be opened in the absence of candidates but for making round, there is no such law.