During the polling yesterday cops have seized around 295 fake voter identity cards, 59 voters’ slips and a laptop in Bandra, West Mumbai near Congress helpdesk.

As per cops, while an Independent candidate was doing rounds in polling areas saw a huge crowd at Congress helpdesk and informed cops immediately. A case was registered by Bandra police and it will be handed over to the Mumbai Crime Branch as per officials.

Sameer Rai the Independent candidate said, “I was with my team in the area. In the slums near Rangsharda hall, I found a large crowd at a helpdesk of a party in the afternoon. I informed the police but they reached very late. When they arrived, people started running away. A few of them tried to attack me, but I was saved by the police.”

Baba Siddiqui is the sitting Congress MLA from the area. When the cops have arrived at the spot people who are allegedly distributing the ‘fake’ election cards at the helpdesk escaped and the cops got hold of 17-year-old boy and a 19-year –old woman, Sunita Yadav.

ACP Shivaji Kolekar of Bandra Division said, “We have registered a case against five people and arrested a minor and a woman. The case has been registered under Sections 177 F (furnishing false information), 465 (forgery) and 420 (cheating) of IPC. We are verifying the cards to see whether they are fake or original and will take action against the accused.”

(Priyanka)