Foreign passport-holding Lankan Tamil arrested for illegal voting in Tamil Nadu elections

Chennai: A 65-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil, holding a Sri Lanka passport, was arrested for illegally casting his vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Immigration authorities arrested him at Chennai International Airport on Wednesday. So far, about 20 foreign passport-holders have been arrested for illegally casting their votes in Tamil Nadu.The arrested man, identified as Abraham, originally hailed from Aruppukottai in Tamil Nadu but now lives in France. He was travelling on a Sri Lankan passport and was scheduled to board an IndiGo flight to France via Doha from Chennai airport in the early hours of Wednesday.Following an inquiry, immigration authorities cancelled his journey, detained him for questioning and later decided to hand him over to the Anti-Passport Wing of the Chennai Central Crime Branch police for further legal action. Officials also informed the Election Commission of India about the arrest particulars.The voting for the Tamil Nadu assembly was held on April 23. Following a tip off that overseas citizens of India card-holders and foreign nationals of Indian origin travelled to Tamil Nadu and voted illegally, the Election Commission of India intensified surveillance at international airports across the state.As part of the monitoring exercise, immigration officials at airports in Chennai, Tiruchi, Madurai and Coimbatore examined the fingerprints of outbound international passengers during immigration clearance. Officials checked for indelible ink marks used during the election polling.While verifying Abraham at Chennai International Airport, the immigration officers found the ink mark on Abraham's left index finger, indicating that he cast his vote in the Assembly elections.Abraham, though originally from Tamil Nadu, held Sri Lankan citizenship and travelled from France to Aruppukottai last month. Investigators found that he cast his vote at a polling booth in his hometown before attempting to return to France.Authorities said 19 persons have been arrested so far over illegal voting and attempts to leave the country through airports in Tamil Nadu during the past two weeks.