08 February,2026 06:30 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sena MLA Vilas Bhumre, who is the MLA from Paithan, played down the issue. Representational Pic/File
A probe has been ordered after Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLA Vilas Bhumre took his minor son inside an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) booth during Zilla Parishad elections in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, officials said on Sunday, reported the PTI.
The incident took place in Paithan taluka of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, they said, adding that the act violated election rules related to secrecy and voting procedures.
The incident took place on Saturday at the Pachod polling booth. In the video, which later went viral on social media, both Bhumre and his son can be seen with ink marks on their fingers.
Following the circulation of the video, district collector Dilip Swami ordered an inquiry into the matter.
When questioned by reporters, Bhumre, who is the MLA from Paithan, played down the issue.
He said his son had accompanied him and wanted ink on his finger while Bhumre was being marked after voting.
"My son is very small. How will he understand anything about EVMs and its buttons? He only came with me," Bhumre said, according to the PTI.
District collector Dilip Swami said action was taken after he came to know about the incident through the viral video and media reports.
"I have called the concerned officer in Paithan taluka and asked for a detailed report. I have also sought an explanation about who allowed the child to enter the EVM booth and have his finger inked," Swami said, the news agency reported.
He added that action would be taken against officials found responsible for the lapse.
Vilas Bhumre is the son of senior Shiv Sena leader Sandipanrao Bhumre, who served as Paithan MLA five times and is currently the Lok Sabha MP from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, formerly known as Aurangabad.
A similar case was reported on the same day in Solapur district.
In another viral video, Arjun Sinh Mohite Patil's son was seen standing next to him inside a polling booth at Yashwant Nagar in Akluj and pressing the EVM button, as per the PTI.
Patil later claimed that the child was only curious to see how voting is done.
(with PTI inputs)
