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Last Updated:May 15, 2026, 08:42 IST
The elections in Tamil Nadu were conducted in a single phase on April 23, and the vote counting took place on May 4
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About 25 foreign nationals have been arrested or detained so far for allegedly obtaining fraudulent identity documents to cast votes in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly Election, said the police on Thursday.
The accused individuals were intercepted by officials of the Bureau of Immigration and later detained by the local police, according to a report by The Hindu.
The accused were taken into custody after electoral ink — which is applied to the finger of voters after the cast their votes — was found on their index fingers, added the report.
The elections in Tamil Nadu were conducted in a single phase on April 23, and the vote counting took place on May 4.
Legal Proceedings Begin
Legal proceedings against the accused were initiated under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and other relevant laws, The Hindu reported.
As per investigators, the group included British and Canadian nationals, with the majority of them being Sri Lankan citizens.
Acting on intelligence inputs that some foreign nationals were attempting to flee the country after casting their votes on the basis of fraudulent identities, the law enforcement agencies alerted officials at the Chennai, Madurai, and other airports, leading to the arrests.
Impact On Election Outcomes?
Asked whether or not the fraudulent voters would impact the election results in Tamil Nadu, a senior official declined to comment, reported The Hindu.
However, he said a comprehensive report had been submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI). A probe is underway to analyse the details of foreign nations who arrived in India before voting and were yet to leave, said the report.
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News india Voted, Then Attempted To Flee: About 25 Foreigners Held Over Fraudulent Voting In Tamil Nadu Election
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