EVM Theft: Pune District Collector Transferred; SDM, SDPO, Tehsildar, Police Inspector And Two Others Suspended
Sumit Singh & Tikam Shekhawat
Pune, 8th February 2024: The Election Commission of India (ECI) took serious notice after the control unit of an electronic voting machine (EVM) was stolen from a strong room in Saswad on Sunday night.
Based on instructions from the ECI, following officers and personnel have been suspended from Tuesday night:
Purandar-Daund Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Varsha Landge-Khatri, Purandar Tehsildar Vikram Rajput, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Bhor) Tanaji Barde, Police Inspector Santosh Jadhav of Saswad Police Station, Assistant Sub Inspector DL Mane and Home Guard jawan Rahul Jarande.
Meanwhile, in the wee hours of Wednesday, Pune rural police recovered the stolen EVM unit and arrested two persons who are criminals on police record.
On Wednesday evening, the Maharashtra state government transferred Pune District Collector Rajesh Deshmukh and appointed Suhas Divase as the new District Collector.
The Pune rural police have arrested the thieves responsible for breaking into the Tehsildar office in Saswad and stealing the voting machines (control unit). The identified thieves are Shivaji Ramdas Bandgar (21 years old), and Ajinkya Raju Salunkhe (21 years old), both hailing from Malshiras in Purandar taluka of Pune district.
The stolen voting machines, including the EVM, Control Unit, and VVPAT, were stored in the Tehsildar office at Saswad. The thieves gained access by breaking the lock of the Tehsildar office and entering inside.
The voting machines were kept on an iron platform within the room. It was discovered on Monday that the thieves had stolen a demo voting machine. Following the theft, a case was registered at the Saswad police station.
Under the guidance of Pune rural SP Pankaj Deshmukh and Additional SP (Baramati division) Sanjay Jadhav, a team consisting of the Local Crime Branch and Saswad Police initiated efforts to track down the thieves. Simultaneously, a technical investigation was launched. The investigation led to the arrest of Bandgar and Salunkhe.
