State Act

THE KARNATAKA MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACT, 1976.

52. Removal of ballot papers 1[or voting machine]1 from polling station to be an offence.- (1) Any person who at any election fraudulently takes or attempts to take a ballot paper 1[or voting machine]1 out of a polling station or wilfully aids or abets the doing of any such act shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 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 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 women to be searched, the search shall be made by another woman with strict regard to decency. (3) Any ballot paper 1[or voting machine]1 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.