Chandigarh returning officer Masih tenders apology to court, Will withdraw old affidavit

New Delhi: Anil Masih, who served as the returning officer in the January 30 mayoral election in Chandigarh, tendered an unconditional apology to the court today.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing him, informed a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud that Masih sought to offer an unconditional apology and would withdraw the affidavit he had previously submitted.

He stands accused of spoiling 8 votes during the Chandigarh mayoral election and was issued a contempt notice by the court for providing false information during the Supreme Court hearing.

Chandigarh’s current mayor, Kuldeep Kumar, had lodged a petition in the Supreme Court, alleging that Returning Officer Anil Masih intentionally spoiled the votes cast in his favor.

Kumar also presented video evidence in support of his claim. When questioned in court about the reason for spoiling the votes, Masih responded that he had only marked those votes that were already deemed invalid.

However, upon examination, the court confirmed that the votes had indeed been spoiled by the election officer. Consequently, the court issued a notice to Masih under criminal section 370.