'Pay Rs 50 or lose citizenship': Viral video puts Jharkhand BLO under scanner
A viral video has sparked allegations that a Booth Level Officer in Jharkhand's Garhwa district demanded Rs 50-100 as "kharcha-pani" to process SIR forms. Villagers claimed money was sought for voter verification, while the accused BLO denied the allegations, calling them a conspiracy to malign her.
Allegations of extortion during the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise have surfaced from Jharkhand's Garhwa district, where villagers claim they are being asked to pay money to obtain, fill and submit voter verification forms.
A video purportedly showing a Booth Level Officer (BLO) seeking "kharcha-pani" (expenses) while processing the forms has gone viral on social media.
The video shows Jamila Bibi, a BLO posted in Gorayaband Tola under Khapro Panchayat in Ranka block, demanding between Rs 50 and Rs 100 from residents for providing, filling and submitting SIR forms. Instead of directly asking for a fee, she is allegedly heard referring to the payment as "kharcha-pani".
When India Today visited the village to verify the claims, several residents alleged that the BLO was indeed demanding money.
Some said they had already filled out their SIR forms but were reluctant to submit them because they were being asked to pay. Others claimed they were told to pay in exchange for assistance with the paperwork, despite the process being free of cost.
"The BLO is demanding around Rs 50 for filling up the form. If someone objects or refuses to pay, they are threatened, saying, 'We will snatch your citizenship.' We also approached several people, but they told us to let it go," local resident Mohammad Parvez Ansari told the media.
Several people were also seen outside the BLO's residence with completed SIR forms. Villagers said many residents had gathered there to complete the verification process, adding that there was confusion over the submission procedure.
Responding to the allegations, Jamila Bibi denied demanding money and claimed she was being deliberately targeted. She said she had already processed around 170 SIR forms and maintained that anyone could verify her work by speaking to the beneficiaries. According to her, the allegations were part of a conspiracy to malign her.
The viral video has sparked a row over the implementation of the SIR exercise in the area, with residents demanding that the verification process remain completely free and accessible.
Allegations of extortion during the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise have surfaced from Jharkhand's Garhwa district, where villagers claim they are being asked to pay money to obtain, fill and submit voter verification forms.
A video purportedly showing a Booth Level Officer (BLO) seeking "kharcha-pani" (expenses) while processing the forms has gone viral on social media.
The video shows Jamila Bibi, a BLO posted in Gorayaband Tola under Khapro Panchayat in Ranka block, demanding between Rs 50 and Rs 100 from residents for providing, filling and submitting SIR forms. Instead of directly asking for a fee, she is allegedly heard referring to the payment as "kharcha-pani".
When India Today visited the village to verify the claims, several residents alleged that the BLO was indeed demanding money.
Some said they had already filled out their SIR forms but were reluctant to submit them because they were being asked to pay. Others claimed they were told to pay in exchange for assistance with the paperwork, despite the process being free of cost.
"The BLO is demanding around Rs 50 for filling up the form. If someone objects or refuses to pay, they are threatened, saying, 'We will snatch your citizenship.' We also approached several people, but they told us to let it go," local resident Mohammad Parvez Ansari told the media.
Several people were also seen outside the BLO's residence with completed SIR forms. Villagers said many residents had gathered there to complete the verification process, adding that there was confusion over the submission procedure.
Responding to the allegations, Jamila Bibi denied demanding money and claimed she was being deliberately targeted. She said she had already processed around 170 SIR forms and maintained that anyone could verify her work by speaking to the beneficiaries. According to her, the allegations were part of a conspiracy to malign her.
The viral video has sparked a row over the implementation of the SIR exercise in the area, with residents demanding that the verification process remain completely free and accessible.
