Complaints of missing or ‘already used’ names

“I reached the polling booth early morning to cast my vote,but I was shocked to find that neither mine nor any of my family members’ names were on the list. I have decided to file a complaint with the State Election Commission,” said Hashmi.

Meanwhile,after standing in queue for over an hour with his wife,Mohammad Sultan,a tailor at Zaffrabad in East Delhi,was told that votes had already been cast in his and his wife’s name.

“I am carrying my identity card and slip from the Election Commission,but a person with a fake identity proof has voted. The candidates contesting the polls are bringing fake voters,” said Sultan.

The report created chaos at the polling station,with Sultan and his wife Shehnaz Begum casting tender votes (recast of vote in case of bogus vote) later.

Two men,suspected to be involved in casting fake votes,were also arrested. The issue also led to a war of words between Congress candidate Razia Sultana and an Independent candidate Hasman Rehman.

In a similar case,Rakesh Gupta was turned away from a Mayur Vihar Phase-I booth after being told that his vote has already been cast.

“I tried to convince the presiding officer that I am the real Rakesh Gupta. But they refused to believe me. They said the election officials had checked that the other person had the same photo and identity card,” said Gupta.

He,too,was later allowed tender voting.

However,Rehman from Tagore Garden was denied a tender vote though he claimed someone else had voted in his name.

State Election Commissioner Rakesh Mehta said an inquiry will conducted on reports of the bogus votes and missing names. “The exact number of the bogus votes will come to light on the counting day. We will also check how the name of the MP Hashmi wasn’t on the list.”