EC gives Bengal CS time till August 21 to comply with its suspension order

KOLKATA: Election Commission Wednesday gave Bengal chief secretary Manoj Pant time till August 21 to comply with its directions to suspend four state officers and lodge FIRs against them and a data entry officer. The officers, working in Baruipur East and Moyna assembly segments, are facing allegations of lapses in voter inclusions in local electoral rolls.

Pant, who met EC officials in Delhi much before the 5pm deadline he was set, told EC that Bengal had formed a three-member committee to probe the complaints.

Sources said he informed the officials that the state had ordered a fresh probe because it felt EC's directives were harsh. He was told the state could probe the matter but he needed to comply with the order and send a compliance report at the earliest, sources added. If there was any further delay in following the order, EC might consider it insubordination, Pant was told.