Hans News Service Amaravati

TheState Election Commission (SEC) has lodged a complaint with the cybercrime police station seeking a probe into two incidents involving the circulation of fabricated messages and documents in the name of the Commission ahead of the forthcoming rural and urban local body elections. The SEC said it was making preparations for the second ordinary elections to rural and urban local bodies in the State when a fake election schedule was circulated through WhatsApp and social media on August 21. The fabricated communication used tampered letterheads, official logos and a signature, falsely projecting it as an official SEC communication.

The commission issued a press note on August 24, clarifying that the schedule was fake and urging the public and media to rely only on its official press notes and press conferences for authenticated information.

A second fabricated message surfaced in WhatsApp groups on September 28. It claimed that the State Election Commissioner had said another two months would be required to announce the local body election schedule and that the election process would begin only after court clearance on electoral rolls and reservations. It also claimed that internal preparations had already begun despite any delay.

The SEC categorically rejected the claims in a press note issued on September 29, stating that the information had neither been issued nor authorised by it.

The commission said repeated circulation of such material was creating confusion among the public, media, political parties and government officials. It said the resulting calls seeking clarification were also affecting its normal functioning and diverting officers and staff from election preparations.

Taking the matter seriously, the SEC lodged a complaint with the cybercrime police station seeking a thorough investigation into both incidents. It asked the police to identify those involved in creating, modifying, transmitting and circulating the fabricated communications and initiate action under applicable law, including the Information Technology Act, 2000, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and other applicable cyber laws and statutory provisions.