ECI suspends Bengal official for fraudulently handling voter data

On the directions of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, West Bengal's chief electoral officer ordered Gorain’s immediate suspension, reported the Indian Express.

Officials said he was found guilty of “gross misconduct in the discharge of his official duties, with malafide intent.”

According to the allegations, Gorain fraudulently inserted his own mobile number into the login credentials of the assistant electoral registration officer (AERO) for Assembly Constituency 131 (Kakdwip).

He is accused of using the OTP received on his phone to process applications submitted under Forms 6, 7, and 8 through the AERO’s login without authorisation.

“Based on the report received from District Election Officer, South 24 Parganas, Sri Arun Gorai, Assistant System Manager, Kakdwip Subdivision has been suspended due to dereliction in discharge of his duties and disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against him,” the CEO’s office in West Bengal said.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari responded to the development by claiming the suspension vindicated their concerns about irregularities in the electoral roll.

“I warmly welcome the decisive action by the Chief Electoral Officer; West Bengal, suspending Assistant System Manager, Kakdwip Subdivision; Arun Gorain, for his gross misconduct. This follows our complaint exposing the shocking connivance between the ERO, AERO, other Officials involved in the Election Management Process in the District Level across the State and local TMC leaders, who are attempting to delete the names of unsuspecting Hindu Voters from the voter list,” he said in a post on X.