24 Original ID Cards Found Discarded in Jalna Garbage Heap Before Elections
Authorities discovered twenty-four original identity documents dumped in a garbage heap at Savarkar Chowk in Jalna city. This discovery happened on Sunday, merely three days before crucial municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra. The discarded pile included seventeen Aadhaar cards, three PAN cards, and four voter ID cards.
Official Complaint Triggers Immediate Investigation
The model code of conduct cell received a formal complaint about the discarded documents. Additional commissioner Arjun Giram promptly directed the flying squad to conduct an on-the-spot inspection. The team, led by D N Hivrale, visited the location and confirmed the complaint's validity.
Their inspection revealed all documents were original, not photocopies. This finding raised immediate red flags among election officials. Hivrale then filed a formal complaint with the Sadar Bazaar police station, following written instructions from senior district administration officials.
Police Register FIR Under Multiple Legal Provisions
Police registered a First Information Report under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. This section deals with disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant. Authorities also invoked relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Acts from 1950, 1951, and 1989, including Section 123.
Model code of conduct nodal officer Shashikant Hadgal emphasized the seriousness of the situation. He stated that negligence or misuse of election-related documents and voter ID cards constitutes a serious criminal offence. This is particularly true during the sensitive election period.
"The authorities have taken the incident very seriously," Hadgal said. "Such lapses can directly impact the integrity of our electoral process."
High-Level Monitoring of Investigation
Jalna superintendent of police Ajaykumar Bansal confirmed the case's gravity warrants close supervision. He stated the investigation is being monitored at the highest level. Further action will depend entirely on the probe's outcome.
Following the discovery, Jalna district collector Ashima Mittal addressed the broader context. She confirmed the election machinery is acting on every complaint related to model code of conduct violations. Authorities have set a strict twenty-four-hour deadline for addressing such complaints.
The timing of this discovery, just days before elections, adds significant weight to the incident. Election officials remain vigilant about any activity that could compromise the electoral process. The investigation continues as authorities work to determine how these original identity documents ended up in a public garbage heap.
