Severe Action For Baseless News Reports: CEO

The Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana Rajat Kumar today expressed concern over a section of the media writing baseless news items and tarnishing the image of the Election Commission.

Talking to the media at the Secretariat today, the CEO clarified that the final poll percentage had increased as the last voters in the queues had cast their votes after 5 pm, and that what he had given first were the details up to 5 pm.

The CEO warned that severe action would be taken against newspapers, news channels and social media accounts that carried false stories which violated the election code or were against the spirit of democracy.

"There is no need for doubts on the votes polled as the EC officials obtain the duly signed Form 17Cs from the polling agents. The media should refrain from writing false or baseless stories that will create doubts in the people. Police cases will be booked against the media houses that write baseless news items," he warned.

When asked about the ballot units found in an auto in Jagtial in the Nizamabad Parliamentary constituency, Kumar said that after an inquiry it was found to be an M2 series machine while M3 series machines were used in Nizamabad.

Kumar also said that a person who had taken a selfie at a strong room was in police custody and an inquiry was going on.