BENGALURU: Congress government in Karnataka Saturday constituted an SIT to probe allegations of large-scale deletion of voter names from the electoral rolls in Kalaburagi district 's Aland assembly constituency during the 2023 state election.
The SIT was formed after Aland Congress MLA B R Patil lodged a police complaint alleging that the names of 6,670 voters across 256 polling stations were unlawfully deleted. Verification by election officers revealed that applications were filed for deletion of 6,018 voters, but only 24 were genuine. The remaining 5,994 were allegedly filed using fake mobile numbers and without the knowledge of the voters concerned.
The SIT will be headed by ADGP (CID) B K Singh and will include SPs Saidulu Adavath and Shubhanwita.
The team has been given the power to probe all related cases across Karnataka, with assistance from the CID and local police. The move follows LS LoP Rahul Gandhi's claim that genuine voters in Aland were deliberately struck off the rolls.
"Somebody tried to delete 6,018 voters' names through software manipulation and fake applications targeting minorities," Rahul had alleged, adding: "Some force had hijacked the process and deleted the names."
Following Gandhi's charge, CM Siddaramaiah had also accused BJP of subverting democracy through systematic & centralised attempts at "vote chori". "The Aland case is not an isolated incident, but a window to a larger conspiracy to manipulate electoral rolls & deny citizens their right to vote."
"For 18 months, Karnataka CID had been repeatedly urging EC to share certain technical details, such as IP addresses, device ports, OTP trails. These are essential to identify from where the operation was being run and by whom. Yet, EC refused to share the data," he claimed.
The SIT was formed after Aland Congress MLA B R Patil lodged a police complaint alleging that the names of 6,670 voters across 256 polling stations were unlawfully deleted. Verification by election officers revealed that applications were filed for deletion of 6,018 voters, but only 24 were genuine. The remaining 5,994 were allegedly filed using fake mobile numbers and without the knowledge of the voters concerned.
The SIT will be headed by ADGP (CID) B K Singh and will include SPs Saidulu Adavath and Shubhanwita.
The team has been given the power to probe all related cases across Karnataka, with assistance from the CID and local police. The move follows LS LoP Rahul Gandhi's claim that genuine voters in Aland were deliberately struck off the rolls.
"Somebody tried to delete 6,018 voters' names through software manipulation and fake applications targeting minorities," Rahul had alleged, adding: "Some force had hijacked the process and deleted the names."
Following Gandhi's charge, CM Siddaramaiah had also accused BJP of subverting democracy through systematic & centralised attempts at "vote chori". "The Aland case is not an isolated incident, but a window to a larger conspiracy to manipulate electoral rolls & deny citizens their right to vote."
"For 18 months, Karnataka CID had been repeatedly urging EC to share certain technical details, such as IP addresses, device ports, OTP trails. These are essential to identify from where the operation was being run and by whom. Yet, EC refused to share the data," he claimed.
You may also like
"Anti-national forces harming social fabric...": BJP's Raghubar Das slams Opposition
Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira OTT release date confirmed: When and where to watch Fahadh Faasil, Kalyani Priyadarshan's Malayalam movie online
HYDRAA undertakes demolition on encroached government land in Hyderabad
Suryakumar Yadav's Childhood Coach Hails India's Refusal To Shake Hands With Pakistan, Praises Team's Temperament
Max Dowman sends Mikel Arteta clear message ahead of Man City clash in Bukayo Saka absence