25 Foreign Nationals Detained for Illegal Voting in TN Polls

Immigration authorities at Chennai and Madurai airports have detained around 25 foreign nationals for allegedly casting illegal votes in the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and one in Puducherry, officials said. The individuals, primarily Sri Lankan citizens along with others from the United Kingdom, Indonesia and Canada, were intercepted during departure checks after polling ended on April 23 in Tamil Nadu and April 9 in Puducherry.

Officials spotted indelible ink marks on the detainees' index fingers, a standard indicator used at polling stations to prevent multiple voting. Acting on instructions from the Election Commission of India, immigration officers screened outbound passengers holding foreign passports. Most detentions occurred at Chennai International Airport, with a smaller number at Madurai. The suspects, many of Indian origin who had acquired foreign citizenship, allegedly stayed in Tamil Nadu constituencies including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Villupuram and Madurai, as well as Pattukottai and Puducherry areas, to participate.

Police have registered at least nine cases since May 7 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the...