KOLKATA: Meeting the deadline set by the Election Commission of India (ECI) the West Bengal government on Tuesday afternoon lodged FIR against four government officers including two West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) executives.
The four officers — former Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) — of the Baruipur Purba and Moyna Assembly segments respectively in South 24 Parganas and East Midnapore districts had allegedly enrolled fictitious voters last year.
Nandini Chakraborty, state chief secretary, had been directed by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday to file the FIR against the four errant officers by 17 February. The state secretariat Nabanna finally implemented the ECI directive on Tuesday.
ECI officials said Bengal chief secretary sent her compliance report before the 5 pm deadline set by the poll authority.
"The Commission, which is on a visit to Assam, will examine the same on its return from the review tour," an official said.
She rushed to Delhi on Friday evening and appeared before the full bench of the Commission to explain why the poll panel’s directives could not be implemented so far.
Sources in the Commission said, “Besides lodging FIRs against four government officers by the deadline 17 February she has also been asked to implement several other directives issued by the Commission earlier.”
The national poll panel on Sunday night already suspended the seven Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), who are West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) executives, from six assembly segments in Bengal after holding them guilty of allegedly including several ineligible persons in the post-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
Agarwal on Tuesday suspended three electoral roll micro-observers (ERMOs) on charge of negligence in duties related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
The CEO was prompted to take the steps against the three ERMOs, who are under deputation to the Election Commission of India (ECI), based on the reports of the district roll observers. The suspended officers are associated with Bangiyo Grameen Bikash Bank, UCO Bank and Central Tax and CGST.