FIR filed against 48 for securing fake voter IDs in UP village

LUCKNOW: An FIR has been registered against 48 people in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district for allegedly obtaining voter identity cards using forged documents, police said on Wednesday. The case was lodged at the Asmoli police station on a complaint filed by Bilalpat village lekhpal Gunnu Babu. According to the complaint, the accused were booked under Sections 318(4) (cheating), 336(2) (forgery), 338 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc.) and 340(2) (using forged documents or electronic records as genuine) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act. Police said the matter came to light after District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya, during a visit to Bilalpat to review the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, received complaints from Mohammad Qamar and Mohammad Farooq alleging the inclusion of fake voters using forged documents. An inquiry committee constituted by the district magistrate subsequently found that 48 individuals had allegedly secured voter ID cards by submitting forged documents, including Aadhaar cards, officials said. Based on the inquiry report, Pensiya directed the registration of a criminal case, following which an FIR was lodged against all 48 accused, all residents of Bilalpat village. Further investigation is underway.