BKC Police Book Two Mumbai Officials for Skipping Electoral Roll Duties in Bandra East

The Bandra Kurla Complex police booked two government officials on Monday for allegedly failing to report for duties related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the 176 Bandra East assembly constituency. The officers, Manoj Kulkarni and Atul Waghmare, have been summoned for questioning before police initiate further action.

The case was registered following a complaint filed by Yuvraj Gadvi, a 52-year-old deputy tehsildar (elections) with the revenue department. According to Gadvi, posts for Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) across 26 assembly constituencies in the Mumbai Suburban district were notified on May 15, with personnel from various government departments assigned to SIR duties under orders from the Deputy District Election Officer.

Gadvi's office communicated Kulkarni's appointment as AERO for the Bandra East constituency to management at the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) on June 17. Kulkarni, who serves as a deputy manager in finance and accounts at MSEDCL, allegedly failed to attend assigned meetings or oversee ongoing work, despite clear instructions from the Election Commission to complete the revision process by August 8.

The second officer, Waghmare, an executive assistant in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's sewage department, was appointed as a booth level officer (BLO) for the same constituency. Gadvi stated that Waghmare was frequently absent from work without permission, and only 14.13 percent of his assigned work had been completed as of Monday.

Prior to registering the FIR, Gadvi sent notices via WhatsApp and email on July 17 and July 18 to the respective department heads of both officials regarding their absence. This marks the second recent instance in Mumbai where officials were booked for missing SIR duties, following an action by the Vakola police on July 15, when 11 school teachers were booked after failing to report for duty.