Tahsildar enters EVM strongroom in Madurai, suspended

Alleging that a woman official had entered the strongroom in Madurai Medical College, CPM and DMK cadres staged a protest in front of the institution early on April 21.

According to sources, on the evening of April 21, a woman in the rank of tahsildar — identified to be Sambooranam — had allegedly stayed in the room for about two hours and had taken a few documents out and later had taken photocopies of them.

Madurai district collector S Natarajan initiated an inquiry and later said the tahsildar was suspended.

Earlier, CPM workers, including CPM candidate Su Venkatesan, protested outside Madurai Medical College, demanding an explanation as to why a the official was inside the room and sought details of the documents that she had allegedly taken photocopies of. Subsequently, DMK and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) partyworkers also thronged the hospital.

The police then reached the spot and attempted to pacify them, but it vain.

Party workers then took out a rally to Madurai district collector S Natarajan’s residence to file a complaint in this regard. Natarajan had told The Federal that government officials did not have permission to access the room, and that they were checking footage from CCTV cameras.

Meanwhile, sources in the Madurai city police department said the official had told police posted at the hospital that she was a tahsildar and gained entry.

Except AIADMK candidate Raj Satyan, all MP candidates, including Su Venkatesan, have filed a complaint with the collector.

Speaking to The Federal, Su Venkatesan claimed that the woman had entered the room due to  lack of security at the medical college. “We would also file a complaint with chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo on Sunday [April 21] morning,” he said.

He also demanded to see footage from CCTV cameras to know what the official took from the room.