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SC asks ECI to consider representation on voter turnout

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New Delhi, March 18: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to examine the issue of disclosure of the authenticated record of voter turnout on its official website within 48 hours after each phase of polling in Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.

A bench, headed by CJI Sanjiv Khanna and comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and K.V. Viswanathan, was dealing with a plea seeking a direction to the poll body to provide a tabulation of the constituency and polling station-wise figures of voter turnout in absolute numbers and in percentage after each phase of polling.

During the hearing, senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing on behalf of the poll body, suggested that the petitioners could meet the newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for redressal of their grievances.

In view of the ECI’s submission, the CJI Khanna-led Bench deferred the hearing and asked the poll body to examine the petitioners’ representation.

Directing the petitioners to make a representation before ECI within 10 days, the apex court posted the matter for the next hearing in the week commencing July 28.

The plea was filed against the backdrop of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when the data, as published by the ECI in its press release dated April 30, 2024, showed a “sharp increase (by about 5-6 per cent) as compared to the initial percentages announced by ECI, as of 7 p.m. on the day of polling”.

“It is submitted that the inordinate delay in the release of final voter turnout data, coupled with the unusually high revision (of over 5 per cent) in the ECI’s press note of April 30, 2024, and the absence of disaggregated constituency and polling station figures in absolute numbers, has raised concerns and public suspicion regarding the correctness of the said data,” the plea said.

Referring to the voter turnout data published by the poll body on April 30, 2024, for the first two phases, after 11 days of the first phase of polling held on April 19, and 4 days after the second phase of polling held on April 26, the plea claimed “dereliction of duty” on part of the ECI in declaring election results (of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies through Electronic Voting Machines), based on accurate and indisputable data which is put in the public domain.

The application added that these apprehensions must be addressed and put to rest, and in order to uphold the voter’s confidence, it is necessary that the ECI be directed to disclose on its website scanned legible copies of Form 17C Part- I (Account of Votes Recorded) of all polling stations which contains the authenticated figures for votes polled, within 48 hours of the close of polling.

In an affidavit filed before the top court, the ECI said that disclosing the scanned legible copies of accounts of votes recorded at all polling stations would cause “chaos” in the election machinery. The poll body added that the voter turnout App continuously keeps reflecting data on a live basis, and on the other hand, Form 17C is given to agents of candidates after the close of poll on polling day itself as per the statutory requirement.

Mumbai Press Exclusive News

ANC action, drugs worth crores seized, 6 arrested

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Mumbai: The Anti-Narcotics Cell has claimed to have arrested six drug smugglers, including a Nigerian, including a Nigerian, including MD and Natropum tablets worth Rs 7.01 crore, during operations at various locations in Mumbai. 523 grams of cocaine, worth Rs 5.23 crore, was seized from a Nigerian in Vakola, Mumbai. Five accused were arrested in raids conducted in Ghatkopar, Kurla CST, Mazgaon, tardeo, Borivali areas, from whose possession Mephedone MD worth Rs 54.65 lakh was seized. These are part of five inter-state drug gangs. Other drugs including Natropum tablets were also seized in this operation. This operation was carried out by DCP Nunath Dhule on the instructions of the Mumbai Police Commissioner.

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Crime

AI Misuse Horror In Pune: Woman’s Fake Nude Images Shared Online After BGMI Chat; Accused Nabbed From Mumbai

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Pimpri-Chinchwad: A shocking case has come forward in Pune’s Bavdhan area, as a young woman’s nude and obscene photos created with the help of AI were circulated on social media. Police have arrested a young man from the Mumbai area regarding this. The victim is a Master of Business Administration (MBA) student at a Pune-based college. All of this was done after the man met the woman through the Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) game.

A 21-year-old woman, a resident of Bavdhan, has lodged a complaint at Bavdhan Police Station. Police have arrested Chirag Rajendra Thapa (21), a resident of Virar East, Mumbai. A case has been registered against him under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, 2000.

According to Bavdhan Police, the accused and the victim became acquainted about a fortnight ago through the BGMI game. Professional gamers say that players can meet random people on BGMI and similar games through matchmaking, team lobbies, or voice chats. These games connect players from different regions for cooperative or competitive gameplay. In a similar way, the accused and the victim got connected.

Police further said that after a BGMI gaming session, the accused “slid into” the victim’s Snapchat and Instagram. They were talking on Instagram. However, around a week ago, the accused asked the victim out on a date and to be his girlfriend. She refused, citing that they had never met and she didn’t want a romantic relationship with the accused.

A police official told media “This angered the accused, and he created over 13 fake profiles in the victim’s name on Instagram. He started sending threats to the victim through them. As the victim didn’t budge, he made obscene and morphed nude photos of her with the help of AI and circulated them. He sent them to the victim’s family and friends. Not stopping there, he also went on to create similar images of her other lady friends, asking them to convince the victim to talk to him and accept his love proposal.”

The victim finally reached out to Bavdhan Police Station on Thursday. A case was registered. Through technical analysis and skilful investigation by the Detection Branch (DB) of Bavdhan Police Station, under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Anil Vibhute, the accused’s location was identified. API Ambarish Deshmukh, PSI Bandu Marne, and Police Constables Arun Narale and Swapnil Sabale went to Karjat and arrested the accused, Thapa, from there.

Police said that they have secured three days of police custody of the accused. The investigation is ongoing, led by PI (Crime) Bhaskar Kadam.

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National News

Mumbai Local Mega Block Update: Train Services To Be Disrupted In Central, Western Lines | Full List Of Affected Routes & Timings

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Mumbai local train update: The Central and Western Railways have issued an advisory for commuters regarding their upcoming mega block and special traffic block and power block on their service. The Central Railway has announced a special traffic block and power block for pre non-interlocking works in connection with Karjat Yard remodelling work from October 11 to October 14.

In addition to this, a four-hour jumbo block has been scheduled on the Western Line between Borivali-Ram Mandir Station tomorrow i.e. October 12.

The block has been scheduled for carrying out pre non-interlocking works in connection with Karjat Yard remodelling work. The block has been imposed between Palasdhari and Bhivpuri Chowk section. Amid this, several trains have been cancelled, diverted or short terminated. The full list of the trains is shared below:

From 12.20 pm on 11.10.2025 (Saturday) to 7.20 am of 12.10.2025 (Sunday)
From 7.20 am to 6.20 pm of 12.10.2025 (Sunday)
From 11.20 am to 2.20 pm of 13.10.2025 (Monday) & From 11.20 am to 2.20 pm of 14.10.2025 (Tuesday)

In order to carry out maintenance work of tracks, signalling and overhead equipment, a Jumbo Block of four hours has been announced on Sunday.

The block will be taken on Up Fast lines between Borivali – Ram Mandir stations, as well as on the 5th line between Ram Mandir – Kandivali stations.

According to a press release issued by Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, the timings of the jumbo block is from 10 am to 2 pm.

Some suburban trains will remain cancelled during the block and also some of the Andheri and Borivali trains will be worked upto Goregaon on Harbour line.

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