Karnataka’s SIT is investigating alleged voter fraud in Aland, seeking crucial technical data such as IP addresses, device logs, and OTP trails from the Election Commission. The probe targets 6,018 suspicious Form 7 deletion applications.
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BENGALURU: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing a large-scale voter data manipulation in Karnataka’s Aland constituency. Allegedly, 6,018 Form 7 applications, used for the deletion of names from the voters’ list, were filed between February 2022 and February 2023 under suspicious circumstances.
The SIT has formally written to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka seeking critical information such as device ports, IP addresses, and OTP trails related to these applications. According to sources, the team is still awaiting a response from the CEO. These digital details are key to tracing the origin of the fraudulent filings and the individuals behind them.
Using advanced digital forensic tools, including Internet Protocol Detail Record (IPDR), the SIT has been able to trace the trail of these fraudulent activities. Investigators have reportedly identified a call center in Kalaburagi, with Mohammed Akram allegedly orchestrating the manipulation of voter data in the region. Akram, along with his associate Ashfaq and four others, has emerged as the main suspect in this case.
The investigation revealed that 75 mobile phones, primarily owned by people from lower to middle-income backgrounds, were used to submit the fraudulent applications to the Election Commission. Each Form 7 application was reportedly filed for a payment of Rs 80.
“The SIT is investigating the mode and source of payment. It may be a challenge to unearth the money trail if payments were made in cash,”
sources noted.
Vote Chori Incident: Rahul Gandhi Claims
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused the BJP and the Election Commission of orchestrating widespread electoral fraud, calling his revelations a “hydrogen bomb” against Prime Minister Modi’s government. He alleged systematic deletion of voters’ names and manipulation of electoral rolls to target Congress-supporting communities.
Key Allegations:
- Targeted Voter Deletions: Gandhi claimed thousands of voters were deliberately removed from electoral rolls in multiple constituencies, including over 6,000 in Aland, Karnataka.
- Use of Software and Fake Applications: He alleged fake logins and software were used to automate voter deletions, describing the process as organised “vote theft” rather than clerical errors.
- Election Commission Under Scrutiny: Gandhi accused the EC, particularly Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, of protecting the perpetrators and obstructing Karnataka CID’s probe by ignoring repeated requests for technical data such as IP addresses and OTP trails.
- Aland Constituency Case: The Aland Assembly constituency was cited as a key example, where fake applications impersonated real voters, and mobile numbers from outside Karnataka were used to submit requests.
- EC Response: The Election Commission dismissed Gandhi’s claims as “incorrect and baseless,” stating that no online deletion by the public is possible. They added that unsuccessful attempts in Aland had prompted an FIR.
Rahul Gandhi warned that the Aland case represents only a fraction of a larger nationwide pattern of electoral manipulation, promising more evidence to expose the scale of the alleged fraud.
