ECI denies reports of ordering to ban book on Rafale deal, officers sacked

The Election Commission did not authorise anyone to seize a Tamil book on the Rafale deal and action has been taken against officials involved in the action, Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa said Thursday. All those involved in the action have been removed, Lavasa said.

The Commission has sought a report on the entire episode from Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo, he told reporters here. "It was brought to our knowledge through electronic media. The EC learnt about it, we were informed that the CEO or the EC has not authorised this kind of action taken by the flying squad," Lavasa said.

"The moment we came to know about it and after ascertaining the details, the concerned flying squad has been changed. All officials involved in the action have been removed. We are awaiting a full report on how it happened from the CEO," he added. On Tuesday, a flying squad - that included police officers - reportedly seized over 100 copies of the book titled Naatai Ulukkum Rafale Paera Oozhal (Rafale: The scam that shook the nation) from publisher's outlet Bharathi Puthakalayam just before its launch scheduled in the evening.

Editor of the publishing house P K Rajan said the police officials cited violation of the model code of conduct to seize the books. However, the books were returned in the evening and the launch took place as per schedule.

Speaking to PTI, Bharathi Puthagalayam publisher K Nagarajan said 8,000 copies have been sold in over 30 outlets across the state and orders have been placed for 10,000 more copies. Authored by a Chennai-based engineer S Vijayan, the book urges readers to defeat the AIADMK-led alliance in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

(With inputs from agencies.)