ECI suspends two EROs in UP's Pilibhit over voter roll irregularities
Synopsis
The Election Commission has suspended two Electoral Registration Officers in UP's Pilibhit, strengthened an existing FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and ordered a statewide re-examination of voter rolls — a rare, multi-layered enforcement action that signals zero tolerance on electoral roll manipulation ahead of future polls.
Key Takeaways
The Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered the suspension of Mayank Goswami and Hemant Chaudhary , EROs of Pilibhit Assembly constituency , with immediate effect.
Section 198 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 has been ordered added to the FIR against the two officers and VRC Computer Operator Anil Kumar .
The officers cannot be reinstated without the ECI's prior approval ; charge sheets must be submitted to the Commission for vetting.
The District Election Officer, Pilibhit must submit a scrutiny report on all four Assembly constituencies within one week ; an action-taken report on AEROs is due within three days .
All EROs and DEOs across Uttar Pradesh have been directed to re-examine electoral rolls, with focus on data entry through Forms 6, 7, and 8 .
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed Uttar Pradesh authorities to suspend two Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) of the Pilibhit Assembly constituency with immediate effect, following alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls. The Commission also ordered the addition of a fresh provision under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, to the First Information Report (FIR) already registered against the officers.
Officers Named and Suspended
The two officers identified by the ECI are Mayank Goswami and Hemant Chaudhary, both of whom were serving as Electoral Registration Officers of the Pilibhit Assembly constituency. In a letter dated 31 October 2026, addressed to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Uttar Pradesh, the Commission directed that both officers be placed under suspension with immediate effect.
The ECI has further instructed state authorities to submit charge sheets against the duo to the Commission for vetting, and has made it clear that neither officer shall be reinstated without its prior approval. All consequential action, it stated, must be taken in accordance with Commission instructions dated 31 May 2023.
FIR Strengthened, Court Cases to Be Pursued Vigorously
In a significant additional direction, the Commission has ordered the inclusion of Section 198 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in the FIR already registered against Goswami, Chaudhary, and Anil Kumar, a VRC Computer Operator. The ECI has also directed that all pending cases against the three accused be pursued rigorously in the concerned court to ensure the matter reaches its logical conclusion.
Wider Scrutiny Ordered Across Pilibhit and UP
The Commission has sought a detailed report from the District Election Officer (DEO), Pilibhit, on the scrutiny of electoral rolls across all four Assembly constituencies of the district. This report, along with specific comments from the CEO, must be submitted to the Commission within one week of the letter's issuance.
Additionally, the ECI has sought an action-taken report against the VRC Computer Operator and details on the roles played by the five Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) of the Pilibhit Assembly constituency — to be furnished within three days.
Extending its reach beyond Pilibhit, the Commission has directed the Chief Electoral Officer to instruct all District Election Officers and Electoral Registration Officers across Uttar Pradesh to thoroughly re-examine electoral rolls under their respective jurisdictions. The scrutiny has been specifically emphasised for data entry and processing related to additions, deletions, and modifications made through Forms 6, 7, and 8 — the standard instruments used for voter registration and electoral roll revision.
Background and Timeline
The Commission's directions were issued in response to a report forwarded by the Uttar Pradesh CEO through a letter dated 24 October 2026, following an earlier communication from the ECI dated 23 October 2026. This comes amid heightened national attention on the integrity of voter rolls, with the ECI having previously flagged irregularities in multiple states during electoral roll revision cycles.
Notably, action under the BNS — which replaced the Indian Penal Code — in electoral fraud cases signals the Commission's intent to apply the newer, stricter legal framework to protect the sanctity of the electoral process. The next steps, including the charge sheet review and Pilibhit district-wide scrutiny report, are expected to determine whether the irregularities were isolated or systemic.
Point of View
FIR enhancement under the BNS, charge sheet vetting, a reinstatement veto, and a statewide audit all rolled into one directive. That breadth suggests the Commission fears the irregularities may not be confined to two officers or one constituency. The invocation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita rather than the older IPC provisions is also deliberate signalling: the Commission wants courts and election officials alike to understand that the legal consequences of electoral roll manipulation have graduated. The real test is whether the statewide roll scrutiny, covering all UP constituencies, surfaces a pattern — or quietly concludes that Pilibhit was an outlier.
NationPress
1 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the ECI suspended the two Electoral Registration Officers in Pilibhit?
The Election Commission of India suspended Mayank Goswami and Hemant Chaudhary, EROs of Pilibhit Assembly constituency, following alleged irregularities detected in the electoral rolls. The Commission examined a state report and issued the suspension order with immediate effect on 31 October 2026.
What is Section 198 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and why is it being added to the FIR?
Section 198 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — which replaced the Indian Penal Code — deals with offences related to false evidence and fabrication of records. The ECI has directed its addition to the existing FIR against the two EROs and a VRC Computer Operator to strengthen the legal case tied to the alleged voter roll manipulation.
Can the suspended officers be reinstated by the state government?
No. The ECI has explicitly stated that the suspended officers shall not be reinstated without its prior approval. Charge sheets must also be submitted to the Commission for vetting before any further action is taken.
What statewide action has the ECI ordered in Uttar Pradesh?
The Commission has directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh to instruct all District Election Officers and Electoral Registration Officers across the state to thoroughly re-examine their electoral rolls. The scrutiny specifically targets data entry and processing for additions, deletions, and modifications made through Forms 6, 7, and 8.
What are the next steps in the Pilibhit case?
The District Election Officer, Pilibhit, must submit a scrutiny report covering all four Assembly constituencies in the district within one week. An action-taken report on the five Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) and VRC Computer Operator Anil Kumar is due within three days of the ECI's letter dated 31 October 2026.
