An electric charge eliminating device for eliminating electric charge on an image carrying member or on a recording medium carrying member which is incorporated in an image forming apparatus, comprising: a needlelike electrode having a plurality of protruding sections which form a plurality of discontinuous discharge points; an insulating holder for holding the needlelike electrode; a discharging power source for applying an electric voltage to the needlelike electrode; and characterised in that it further comprises: a conductive shielding member arranged between the needlelike electrode and the image carrying member or the recording medium carrying member, wherein a first surface of the shielding member faces the image carrying member or one suspending roller (62, 401b) of a plurality of suspending rollers suspending a transfer belt or a recording media conveying belt as the recording media carrying member across the transfer belt or the recording media conveying belt, and a second surface of the shielding member which is a back surface of the first surface comprises an exposed portion exposed in an electric field formed by the needlelike electrode and an unexposed portion which is covered by the insulating holder and is not exposed in the electric field formed by the needlelike electrode, the insulating holder comprises a cover section to cover the unexposed portion of the shielding member, and holds the needlelike electrode such that the tips of the plurality of protruding sections of the needlelike electrode do not protrude from a tip of the cover section, and wherein the cover member of the insulating holder is provided between the needlelike electrode and the shielding member, and wherein the needlelike electrode, the cover member, and the shielding member are arranged such that an extension line of a line (a) connecting respective tips of the plurality of protruding sections of the needlelike electrode and the tip of the cover section comes in contact with the exposed portion of the second surface of the shielding member. a needlelike electrode having a plurality of protruding sections which form a plurality of discontinuous discharge points; an insulating holder for holding the needlelike electrode; a discharging power source for applying an electric voltage to the needlelike electrode; and characterised in that it further comprises: a conductive shielding member arranged between the needlelike electrode and the image carrying member or the recording medium carrying member, wherein a first surface of the shielding member faces the image carrying member or one suspending roller (62, 401b) of a plurality of suspending rollers suspending a transfer belt or a recording media conveying belt as the recording media carrying member across the transfer belt or the recording media conveying belt, and a second surface of the shielding member which is a back surface of the first surface comprises an exposed portion exposed in an electric field formed by the needlelike electrode and an unexposed portion which is covered by the insulating holder and is not exposed in the electric field formed by the needlelike electrode, the insulating holder comprises a cover section to cover the unexposed portion of the shielding member, and holds the needlelike electrode such that the tips of the plurality of protruding sections of the needlelike electrode do not protrude from a tip of the cover section, and wherein the cover member of the insulating holder is provided between the needlelike electrode and the shielding member, and wherein the needlelike electrode, the cover member, and the shielding member are arranged such that an extension line of a line (a) connecting respective tips of the plurality of protruding sections of the needlelike electrode and the tip of the cover section comes in contact with the exposed portion of the second surface of the shielding member.