Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
(1) Any person who at an election fraudulently takes or attempts to Removal of ballot take a ballot paper out of a polling station, or willfully aids or abets the doing of any papers from h h 11b . h bl . h i .- hi h d potting station to sue act s a e pums a e WIt imprisonment lor a term w IC mayexten to one be an offence. year, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both. (2) If the Presiding Officer of a polling station has reason to believe that any person is committing or has committed an offence punishable under sub- section (1), such officer may, before such person leaves the polling station, arrest or direct a police officer to arrest such person and may search such person or cause him to be searched by a police officer: Provided that when it is necessary to cause a woman to be searched, the search shall be made by another woman with strict regard to decency. (3) Any ballot paper found upon the person arrested on search shall be made over for safe custody to a police officer by the presiding officer or when the search is made by a police officer, shall be kept by such officer in safe custody. (4) An offence punishable under sub-section (1) shall be cognizable.