Team Goemkarponn
Seraulim: Former Seraulim Sarpanch Joaquim Dias has accused local officials of registering nearly 100 illegal voters at commercial premises operating as bars and restaurants in the village, triggering demands for a thorough investigation and action against responsible officials.
Dias, supported by advocate Radharao Gracias, revealed that around 80 voters are registered under House No. 81/B — a bar and restaurant — with another 20 voters listed at a second bar owned by the same family. These properties belong to Camilo Dourado, father of Leslie Dourado, the sitting Deputy Sarpanch of Seraulim, adding a political dimension to the controversy.
Documents obtained under the Right to Information Act from the Seraulim Panchayat show that apart from House No. 81/B, other registered addresses linked to these voters appear to be fictitious, raising concerns about the authenticity of voter registrations. Many of the alleged illegal voters are migrants from Bihar and other states.
Joaquim Dias said he had previously reported irregularities in the voter list of Part No. 11 in the Benaulim Assembly constituency to the Block Development Officer (BDO) but saw no action taken. He accused the Booth Level Officer (BLO) of failing to verify voter addresses against Panchayat records, allowing registrations on fake house numbers and business premises, which violates electoral laws.
Demanding immediate cancellation of these registrations, Joaquim called for strict action against the BLO and a comprehensive audit of the voter rolls in the area to ensure elections are free and fair.
In a complaint submitted to the South District Collector and District Electoral Officer, Joaquim and other residents requested the authorities to verify voters’ addresses using Aadhaar-linked data or require affidavits confirming no duplicate registrations elsewhere in the country.
