Kochi: The Union government on Monday submitted before the Kerala High Court that out of 26 voters listed as witnesses in the Manjeswaram election case, only six were present in India on the polling day. The IUML candidate P.B. Abdurrazaq had won by a slender margin of 89 votes against BJP leader K. Surendran, who challenged this in the court. The Centre made the submission in response to his petition seeking to declare it null and void.
The Union government filed the report based on information given by A.K. Bhuyan, joint deputy director, Intelligence Bureau, New Delhi. The Kerala HC had directed them to examine the emigration records to find out who among the voters were abroad during the elections last year. It stated that in the absence of their passport numbers, which is essential to determine the exact details, a record check on available parameters was conducted and 26 likely persons have been traced.
It was found that out of them only six were present in India on 15 April 2016. The details collection of others will be delayed as their passport numbers were not available. Earlier, the court had taken evidence from polling officials at 43 of the 167 electoral booths in the constituency. It examined the booth-level officers and returning officers. As per an earlier directive, electronic voting machines used in those booths have been kept in the court.
