Thiruvananthapuram: Just after Kerala's chief electoral officer Teeka Ram Meena confirmed that three women had cast bogus votes in the state during Lok Sabha polls, the Kerala police registered a criminal case against the trio. The accused are identified as Saleena PP, a CPI(M) panchayat member, Sumayya KP, CPI(M) leader and P Padmini. 

Meanwhile, Meena also said that if the polling officer is found to have been in the know of bogus voting, then he will also be deemed guilty of the offence. He then added that the polling officer had failed to conduct fair and free elections in the state.

According to sources, the three women cast their votes twice in Pilathara, Kasaragod constituency, on April 23. Defending them, the Left wing said that it was not a case of bogus vote but open vote.

The state registered a voter turnout of 77.68%, according to the figures released by the Election Commission (EC). Kannur saw the highest voter turnout at 83.63%, while Thiruvananthapuram witnessed the lowest voting percentage at 73.40%. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Meanwhile, repolling in East Kadungalloor Service Cooperative Bank auditorium booth which falls under Kalamassery Assembly constituency of the Ernakulam Lok Sabha seat, happened on Tuesday. Repolling was conducted in booth number 83 after it was found that the presiding officer forgot to clear the mock votes from the machine before the actual voting commenced.

On April 23, at the end of the election, a difference of 43 votes was found. The total number of votes cast was 715, but the voter-verifiable paper audit trial (VVPAT) machine displayed 758 votes.