New Delhi: Election Commission has asked District Election Officers, DEOs of 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh to lodge FIRs against the Managing Director and other authorities of Resource Development International, RDI and Dainik Jagran including its Managing Editor.

The EC said the newspaper has published result of exit polls conducted by RDI on the first phase of elections in the state, through their website.

The Commission said the conduct and publication of exit polls amount to offence under Representation of People Act as well as offence under Indian Penal Code.

The offence also amounts to disobedience to Order duly promulgated by the Commission. The EC made it clear that it will not hesitate to take stern legal action in the event of any violations of legal provisions to ensure free and fair elections.

The poll body has also sought compliance report from the CEO of the state by this evening.

The panel has banned exit polls till the last of the votes are cast to ensure that its results do not influence voters.

So far, assembly polls have been concluded in Goa and Punjab and first phase of polling has been held in UP. Uttar Pradesh still has six more phases, while polls are also due in Uttarakhand and Manipur.