Video Fabricated: EC on Smriti Irani’s ‘Booth Capturing’ Charge

Irani posted a video in which an elderly woman alleges that her hand was forcibly put on the Congress symbol.

Photo used for representation. 

(Photo altered by The Quint)

A day after Union Minister and BJP’s Amethi candidate Smriti Irani alleged that her rival in the seat and Congress President Rahul Gandhi was "ensuring booth capturing", the Election Commission rejected the charge, terming it ‘baseless’.

The poll panel also said that the video tweeted by Irani to back her claim was ‘fabricated’.

On Monday, 6 May, as Amethi went to polls, Irani tweeted saying: "Alert @ECISVEEP Congress President @Rahul Gandhi ensuring booth capturing," the Union minister said on Twitter.

She also tagged a video in which an elderly women is seen alleging that her hand was forcibly put on the 'panja' (hand) election symbol of the Congress though she wanted to vote for the 'kamal' (lotus), the BJP's symbol.

She also urged the EC to take action in the matter, reported news agency ANI.

‘Allegation Baseless,’ Says EC

Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Electoral Officer Venkateshwar Lu, has said that the allegations are false, reported news agency IANS.

“Following the complaint, the sector officer, senior officials and even observers rushed to the booth and spoke to the polling agents of the political parties, other officials in the polling booth following which it was conclusively found that the charges in the video clip were fabricated,” he said.

“Due to prima facie allegations in the clip, the presiding officer was summarily removed while the probe was going on," he added.

(With inputs from IANS and ANI)