Today(on 2nd August), The Calcutta High Court has mandated the preservation of all documents and CCTV footage related to the elections in West Bengal’s Ghatal Lok Sabha constituency. This directive will be in place until the resolution of the election petition by BJP candidate Hiranmay Chattopadhyaya.
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KOLKATA: Today(on 2nd August), the Calcutta High Court issued a directive ensuring the preservation of all documents and CCTV footage related to the elections in West Bengal’s Ghatal Lok Sabha constituency. This order will remain effective until the election petition filed by BJP candidate Hiranmay Chattopadhyaya is resolved.
Deepak Adhikari, representing the Trinamool Congress, was declared the winner of the Ghatal seat, where elections took place on May 25. The court’s directive mandates that all documents, devices, CCTV footage, and digital video recorders (DVRs) related to the Ghatal constituency election must be preserved by the custodian authority responsible for these documents until a final decision is made on the election petition.
Justice Bivas Pattanayak, who issued the order, instructed the concerned registrar of the high court to ensure that a copy of the order is served to the Chief Election Commissioner of India.
“The court ordered that all documents, devices, CCTV footage, and digital video recorders (DVRs) related to the election in the Ghatal constituency be preserved by the custodian authority until a decision is reached on the election petition.”
-the order stated.
A key aspect of the petition is the prayer for a forensic audit of the CCTV footage. The court has scheduled the decision on this request for the next hearing date on September 6.
“The court stated that the petitioner’s lawyer’s request for a forensic audit of the CCTV footage will be decided on the next hearing date, September 6.”
– noted the directive.
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Both Hiranmay Chattopadhyaya and Deepak Adhikari are well-known film actors, recognized by their screen names Hiran and Dev, respectively. Chattopadhyaya’s legal representative, Billwadal Bhattacharya, emphasized that the petition challenges the election process on grounds of alleged corrupt practices.
“Chattopadhyaya’s lawyer, Billwadal Bhattacharya, stated that the petition challenges the election process on the grounds of alleged corrupt practices.”
– Bhattacharya stated.
In addition to the preservation order, Bhattacharya also requested that the records, including CCTV footage, electronic voting machines (EVMs), and DVRs from all polling booths within the constituency, be safeguarded.
“He requested an order for the preservation of records, including CCTV footage, EVMs, and DVRs from all the polling booths in the constituency.”
-Bhattacharya added.
Justice Pattanayak further directed that notices be issued to the respondents involved in the petition.
“Justice Pattanayak directed that a notice be issued to the respondents in the petition.”
-the order concluded.
