Man arrested after video of him voting eight times for UP’s ‘Etah’ goes viral and election officials suspended

A man from Etah in Uttar Pradesh was arrested after his video of him voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) eight times went viral. The state’s top election official has ordered all election party members to be suspended from polling stations.

The arrested youth has been identified as Rajan Singh, a resident of Khiriya Pamaran village in Etah district.

According to officials, the incident was reported in Farrukhabad parliamentary constituency and action was taken after the video went viral on social media on Sunday.

Several opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, posted about it on social media platform X.

Responding to Yadav’s post, Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa said an FIR has been registered at Nayagaon police station in Etah district in the incident under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

“The person who appears to be voting multiple times in the video has been identified as Rajan Singh, son of Anil Singh and a resident of Khiriya Pamaran village. “He was arrested,” the CEO said.

The official also said that instructions have been issued to “suspend and initiate disciplinary proceedings” against all members of the polling party.

“⁠A new poll was recommended to the ECI at the relevant polling station. “Strict instructions have been issued to all district returning officers of the remaining phases in UP to strictly follow the voter identification procedure,” the post said.

The 2.20-minute video was posted by Yadav around 4 pm on Sunday. Yadav said the ECI should take action if it feels what is happening is wrong.

Later, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also posted and reacted to it.

Minutes later, the official posted on X that the circulating video had been noted. “The concerned district returning officer has been instructed to take immediate and effective action.”

According to the CEO, the man was charged under Sections 171-F (punishment for undue influence or impersonation in an election) and 419 (punishment for fraud by impersonation) of the IPC and Sections 128, 132 and 136 of the RP Act 1951.

On Sunday evening, the Farrukhabad district magistrate also posted on The seat will be voted on in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls on May 13.

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