“…In some cases in the recent past, the Commission had to resort to cancelling the elections on account of widespread instances of bribing of electors,” it adds. (Representational) “…In some cases in the recent past, the Commission had to resort to cancelling the elections on account of widespread instances of bribing of electors,” it adds. (Representational)Chief Election Commissioner (EC) Nasim Zaidi has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh reiterating EC’s long-standing demand to make electoral bribery a cognizable offence under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). A cognizable offence is one for which police has the authority to make an arrest without a warrant. The EC has also written to Law Ministry, seeking permanent legal powers to cancel polls in case there is credible evidence of voters being bribed.

Source: Indian Express February 19, 2017 21:11 UTC