Fri Dec 05 18:54:56 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
Headline: Kochi Collector Orders Criminal Probe into Voter Roll Irregularities
Kochi, December 6, 2025: District Collector G. Priyanka has ordered criminal proceedings against 42 individuals and officials in Kochi for allegedly colluding to enroll voters using fraudulent residency documents. The order, issued Friday, follows a complaint filed by Henry Austin, representing Division 25 of the Kochi Corporation, alleging irregularities in the voter roll.
Austin claims that 60 voters were fraudulently added to the electoral list in five booths within his division, using 15 rental agreements fabricated from photocopies of only four stamp papers. While 18 were removed after an initial inquiry, it was confirmed during a hearing in November that 42 remained on the list.
The district election cell had recommended removing the names and initiating criminal cases after the individuals failed to attend a hearing. However, officials stated they were unable to remove the names because the Election Commission had locked the list and subsequently ruled that such irregularities could only be addressed after the elections.
Austin brought the issue to the Collector’s attention after a recent hearing at Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, confirmed that the names of the 42 voters would remain on the electoral roll. The Collector has now directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kochi City) to take action against officials for their alleged failure to address the initial complaints in a timely manner. The investigation is ongoing.
First Piper 