Whoever at an election applies for a voting paper on votes in the name of any other person, whether living or dead, or in a fictitious name, or who having voted once at such election applies at the same election for a voting paper in his own name, and whoever abets, procures or attempts to procure the voting by any person in any such way, commits the offence of personation at an election:
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to a person who has been authorised to vote as proxy for an elector under any law for the time being in force in so far as he votes as a proxy for such elector.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 172
Section 172 provides the statutory definition of 'Bribery' in elections, establishing that whoever gives a gratification to any person with the object of inducing him or any other person to exercise any electoral right, or as a reward for having exercised it, commits bribery.
In filing criminal complaints against political candidates for distributing cash, liquor, or home appliances during election campaigns, establish personal distribution by campaign agents under Section 172 BNS: distinguish individual bribes from general manifesto promises.