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EC raps Fernandes for corrupt practice

The Election Commission today dismissed as 'baseless' Samata Party president George Fernandes's allegation about the printing of 'fake' ballot papers for Bihar and pulled him up for trying to misuse government machinery, calling it a corrupt electoral practice.

The commission said Fernandes, as per his own written admission, had sought to use the services of the director, Intelligence Bureau, to check on printing of ballot papers for Bihar, where the Samata Party chief is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Nalanda.

Following Fernandes's complaint to the commission on September 17, the EC urgently asked the home secretary to make available a copy of the IB director's report, referred to by Fernandes.

But the home secretary informed the EC the same afternoon that "no such report was furnished by him to Mr George Fernandes".

Chief Election Commissioner Manohar Singh Gill and Election Commissioners G V G Krishnamurthy and J M Lyngdoh said at a press conference in New Delhi that the commission also sent a team of senior officials to Calcutta, where the ballot papers for Bihar were being printed at the West Bengal Government Press.

The team has since returned to Delhi and reported that after a thorough inquiry they are satisfied that the printing of ballot papers was executed as per the law and the directions of the commission.

"The team has also stated that there was no excess printing of ballot papers, as alleged," Dr Gill said.

Dr Gill said the commission was disturbed that loose allegations without any basis were being made and publicised, perhaps to disturb the electoral process in the state.

But asked if the commission was going to take action against Fernandes for using the services of the IB director, he said, "This is it for now."

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