EC begins inquiry into case of missing keys of strong rooms
Police officials preventing Congress candidate Adluri Laxman from entering the engineering college premises in Kodimyala mandal of Jagtial district on Monday.
WARANGAL: After receiving orders from the High Court, officials from Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday visited Jagtial district and inquired into the disappearance of keys of two strongrooms at VRK Engineering College which hold EVMs and files of the 2018 Dharmapuri Assembly election.
Congress candidate Adluri Laxman had approached the High Court alleging irregularities in counting of votes after he lost to TRS candidate Koppula Eshwar, now a minister, by 441.
After officials declared the keys missing, the High Court directed the ECI to probe into the matter.
The probe team that arrived in Jagtial comprised principal secretary Avinash Kumar, secretary Madhusudan Gupta, additional secretary Sanjay Kumar and joint secretary Ravi Kumar.
Jagtial district collector Yasmin Basha, his predecessors Gugulothu Sharath and Gugulothu Ravi, additional collectors Aruna Sri and Rajesham and returning officer Bikshapathi appeared before the team, which is to submit the findings to the High Court for further proceedings.
The police made tight security arrangements around the college and denied entry to media persons. When Laxman came to submit his written representation to the team, he was denied permission by the police.
