A Mumbai police constable, Riyaz Pathan, has been suspended for violating voting secrecy rules during the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections. Pathan, who cast his postal ballot at a facilitation center in Byculla, clicked a photo of his ballot paper and shared it with a friend in Satara. This image subsequently went viral, prompting a formal complaint from election officials in Satara.
The incident led to the registration of a case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Representation of the People Act, which mandate strict confidentiality in voting. Investigations revealed that Pathan disregarded explicit guidelines prohibiting the use of mobile phones at polling centers. Following the inquiry, Mumbai Police suspended him.
In a similar case last month, another constable, Ganesh Shinde, was suspended for sharing his postal ballot image online. These incidents highlight growing concerns about breaches of voting confidentiality despite rigorous measures by the Election Commission, including setting up postal voting centers with strict protocols.
Authorities continue to stress the importance of maintaining voting integrity, with further investigations underway to ensure adherence to election norms.
