Did THIS NDA MP kin's phone unlocked EVM? INDIA lost by just 48 seats here

New Delhi: Mumbai North-West, where the Shiv Sena Shinde faction's Ravindra Waikar narrowly won the Lok Sabha election by just 48 votes, is now embroiled in controversy. The Mumbai Police has filed an FIR in an EVM hacking case, naming Waikar's relative, Mangesh Pandilkar, and an Election Commission employee.

FIR filed against MP’s relative

Mumbai Police registered a case against Pandilkar, the brother-in-law of Ravindra Waikar, for using a mobile phone inside the Goregaon election center on the day of vote counting, despite a strict ban. Additionally, an Election Commission employee was implicated for providing the mobile phone to Pandilkar.

#Breaking: Evidences of counting manipulation by the RO of Mumbai North West have surfaced where MVA candidate was defeated by just 48 votes.

Now, reports suggest that Ravindra Waikar’s kin had a phone that unlocks EVM & he was inside the counting centre of a booth.@ECISVEEP? pic.twitter.com/Hjv8CV9upR

— Shantanu (@shaandelhite) June 16, 2024

Opposition demands answers

The incident has sparked a political outcry, with opposition parties demanding clarity from the Election Commission. In response, the Election Commission has scheduled a press conference at 4:30 PM to address the issue.

Complaints lead to investigation

The FIR follows complaints from multiple candidates contesting the North-West seat, as well as concerns raised by the Election Commission. Ravindra Waikar’s narrow victory after a recount had already stirred controversy.

Allegations of misconduct

Sources indicate that an Election Commission officer named Gaurav possessed a mobile phone capable of generating OTPs during the vote count. This phone was allegedly used by Pandilkar, raising suspicions of manipulation. Police believe the phone was in use throughout the counting process.

Police probe and evidence

The Election Commission has handed over all relevant CCTV footage to the Mumbai Police, who have launched an extensive investigation. Three police teams are scrutinizing the footage and examining the phone records. The phone in question has been seized, and its forensic analysis is awaited.

Political reactions

Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray took to Twitter, criticizing the Election Commission by suggesting it stands for "Entirely Compromised" rather than "Election Commission". Meanwhile, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav argued against the use of EVMs, citing global concerns about their vulnerability to tampering. He reiterated the demand for future elections to be conducted using ballot papers.

Congress expresses concerns

The Congress party also raised alarms on social media, questioning how the NDA candidate’s relative’s phone was connected to the EVM and how it reached the vote counting area. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi labeled EVMs as a “black box” and called for greater transparency to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.