Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Removal of ballot papers from polling station to be an offence: (1) Any person who at an election fraudulently takes or attempts to take a ballot paper out of a polling station or wilfully aids or abets the doing of any such act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 1 (one) 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 27 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/her to be searched by a Police Officer: Provided that when it is necessary to cause women 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 a safe custody. (4) An offence punishable under sub-section (1) shall be cognizable.