Tikamgarh: Authorities in Madhya Pradesh have launched an investigation after more than 40 voter identity cards were discovered dumped near the official residence of Union Minister Virendra Kumar Khatik in Tikamgarh district, officials said on Wednesday.
The cards were found in garbage close to the minister’s Civil Lines residence, with several partly charred, suggesting an attempt to destroy them.
According to sources, the matter came to light after the minister’s representative, Vivek Chaturvedi, alerted the district administration. He also urged officials to examine whether the IDs had been misused in government health schemes.
A district administration team later reached the site and seized the recovered cards, many of which were damaged or burnt. Officials confirmed that the possibility of fraudulent use is being investigated.
Collector Vivek Shrotriya has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into how the voter IDs ended up near the minister’s bungalow. “Recovered voter ID cards would be submitted to the Election Commission's office and further investigation would be initiated accordingly,” said Tehsildar Satyendra Singh Gurjar. He added that the discovery raised serious concerns about potential misuse.
Investigators are working to trace the origins of the cards, verify the identities linked to them, and establish whether they were employed for any unlawful activity.
Union Minister Khatik, a senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP from Tikamgarh, currently holds the portfolio of Social Justice and Empowerment. He was in New Delhi for the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament when the incident occurred, sources said.