Daijiworld Media Network - Tikamgarh
Tikamgarh, Aug 20: A political storm is brewing in Tikamgarh after over 40 voter identity cards were discovered discarded near the official residence of union minister Virendra Kumar Khatik on Wednesday.
The voter IDs were recovered from a pile of garbage in the Civil Lines area, just outside the minister’s government bungalow. Shockingly, several of the cards appeared partially burnt, raising suspicions of an attempted cover-up.
While the exact person who first spotted the abandoned cards remains unidentified, the matter was promptly brought to the district administration's attention by Vivek Chaturvedi, a representative of Minister Khatik.
Chaturvedi has requested a thorough inquiry into whether the discarded voter ID cards were linked to any misuse, particularly in relation to government welfare or health schemes.
Acting swiftly, officials from the district administration arrived at the scene and took possession of the cards. According to authorities, many of the voter IDs were either damaged or charred, further fueling concerns of potential tampering or fraudulent use.
District Collector Vivek Shrotriya has ordered a detailed investigation into how such a significant number of voter ID cards ended up near the residence of a sitting Union Minister.
Tehsildar Satyendra Singh Gurjar confirmed that the recovered documents would be submitted to the Election Commission and a formal inquiry has been launched. "The condition in which these cards were found points to serious concerns regarding possible misuse," Gurjar told reporters.
Investigators are now working to trace the origin of the cards, verify the identities involved, and assess whether the IDs were used for any illegal or fraudulent activities.
Union Minister Virendra Kumar Khatik, currently serving as the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and a Lok Sabha MP from Tikamgarh, was reportedly in New Delhi attending the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament at the time of the discovery.
The incident has triggered political ripples in the region, with questions being raised over electoral integrity and administrative lapses. The investigation is ongoing.