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Voter Deletion Scandal Rocks Karnataka: BJP Leaders Linked to Rs 80 Per Deletion Syndicate

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Voter Deletion Scandal in Karnataka has taken a dramatic turn with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the case finding that a data centre operator was paid Rs 80 per fraudulent voter deletion application submitted to the Election Commission in the Aland seat ahead of the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls. This revelation comes after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged "vote chori" during the polls, sparking a massive probe. The investigation discovered that 6,018 such applications were made between December 2022 and February 2023, leading to a total payment of Rs 4.8 lakh.

Key Takeaways:

  • The SIT probing the case found that for every fraudulent voter deletion application made to the Election Commission in the Aland seat, a data centre operator was paid Rs 80.
  • A total of 6,018 such applications were made between December 2022 and February 2023, resulting in a payment of Rs 4.8 lakh.
  • The Aland voter list irregularities were one of the cases brought up by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as part of his "vote chori" allegations.
  • The SIT took over the investigation and has alleged that a data centre located in the Kalaburagi district headquarters was the location from where the applications were submitted.
  • The probe allegedly found that Mohammed Ashfaq, a local resident who was initially let off after promising to surrender electronic devices, was in touch with an associate, Md Akram, and three others via Internet calls.
  • Following crucial recoveries, the SIT conducted searches on properties belonging to four individuals, allegedly finding material to establish the operation of a data centre for voter list manipulation in the Kalaburagi region.
  • The probe reportedly found that the data centre was operated by Md Akram and Ashfaq, while the others served as data entry operators.

Statistics:

  • 6,018 voter deletion applications were made to the Election Commission in the Aland seat.
  • The total payment for these applications was Rs 4.8 lakh.
  • Rs 80 per deletion application was allegedly paid to the data centre operator.
  • 75 mobile numbers were used to register with the EC portal to place requests for changes in voter lists.
  • The SIT seized over seven laptops and mobile phones.

Sources:

  • "The Indian Express, 'Karnataka Elections: One Anna For Every Vote, BJP's Garam Payback For Aland Voter Irregularities?'"
  • "The Indian Express, 'Aland voter deletion: Rs 4.8 Lakh Paid to operator, Rs 80 for every "deletion"'"
  • "The Indian Express, 'Aland voter deletion: SIT seizes seven laptops, Rs 80 paid for every voter deletion'"

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