Is There a Fake Voter List Controversy in Jubilee Hills?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Police have registered a case regarding fake posts in Jubilee Hills.
- Election officials urge public not to share unverified content.
- Legal action will be taken against creators of misleading information.
- High Court dismisses BRS petition over voter list discrepancies.
- Deadline for ECI to act on complaints is October 21.
Hyderabad, Oct 17 (NationPress) In a concerning development, police have initiated an investigation following a complaint by election officials regarding misleading social media posts in the Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency of Telangana. These posts falsely claimed that renowned film actresses were unlawfully included in the voter list, featuring manipulated images and counterfeit EPIC numbers as the November 11 by-election approaches.
The Madhura Nagar Police registered the case based on a report from Assistant Electoral Registration Officer Syed Yahiya Kamal. The complaint detailed the dissemination of misleading content alleging that actresses were improperly added to the voter rolls, showcasing altered photographs, fictitious addresses, and bogus EPIC numbers.
The authorities acted under sections 336(4) and 353(1)(C) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) for Jubilee Hills has urged the public to refrain from trusting or sharing unverified social media claims regarding voter list alterations.
The Election Authority has noted the circulation of false information suggesting that the names of several film actresses appeared on the voter rolls, accompanied by altered photographs and counterfeit EPIC numbers, as highlighted by Hyderabad District Election Officer R. V. Karnan.
He emphasized that stringent legal action will be pursued against anyone responsible for generating or propagating misleading information that could disrupt the electoral process. Citizens have been advised to verify details solely through official channels.
Prior to this incident, the election authorities had launched an inquiry into the social media posts, which featured voter slips depicting prominent Tollywood actresses like Rakul Preet Singh, Samantha, and Tamannaah as registered voters in the Jubilee Hills constituency, all showing fabricated EPIC numbers and addresses.
Given the potential damage to the Election Commission’s credibility, authorities took this matter seriously, filing a complaint with law enforcement after a preliminary investigation.
In a related note, on Thursday, the Telangana High Court dismissed a petition by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regarding alleged discrepancies in the Jubilee Hills voter list.
The High Court acknowledged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) had already begun investigating the complaints.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin noted that the processes of voter registration and deletion are ongoing. They stated that the ECI has until October 21 to address the complaints.
The court clarified that any interference in the electoral process following the announcement of the election schedule could delay the electoral proceedings.