Second arrest in vote fraud probe

Last updated at 09:39 04 May 2005


Police investigating allegations of election fraud in Bradford have arrested a second man.

The suspect, aged 51, was detained a day after a 38-year-old man was arrested as part of the inquiry.

West Yorkshire detectives launched the investigation last week following allegations about the number of voters registered at the home of Conservative councillor Jamshed Khan and a second, derelict address in the city.

Mr Khan, 51, a councillor in a Labour-held marginal Parliamentary seat in Bradford, insisted he had done nothing wrong and said he would be "seeking legal advice" over the allegations.

But he resigned the Tory whip while the investigation was continuing.

Second arrest

West Yorkshire Police today refused to confirm if the man arrested in Bradford this morning was Mr Khan.

Concerns were raised when The Times newspaper reported that 13 people had applied for a postal vote at Mr Khan's home.

A further 12 people were found to be registered to vote at a derelict house that Land Registry records showed that he co-owned until last year.

West Yorkshire police said yesterday that more arrests were likely after they detained the 38-year-old man for questioning over the allegations.

In a statement released today a West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "As part of an on-going investigation into alleged postal ballot fraud a 51-year-old man has been arrested in Bradford and a 38-year-old man arrested yesterday has been bailed pending further inquiries."

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