AB News Desk, New Delhi: In the wake of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, which saw a significant victory for the Mahayuti coalition, questions regarding the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have resurfaced. Leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition have expressed concerns over potential EVM tampering. Amid these allegations, a video circulating on social media claims that EVMs for 63 seats could be hacked for a sum of ₹53 crores.
This alarming claim prompted the Election Commission of India to issue a statement categorically rejecting the assertion, stating that EVMs are tamper-proof and cannot be compromised. Following the Commission’s intervention, the Mumbai Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) at their Cyber Police Station.
Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer, S. Chokalingam, released a statement addressing the issue. He noted that a video was shared by certain social media users, wherein an individual made false and baseless claims about hacking EVMs by manipulating their frequency during the Maharashtra elections. Consequently, an FIR (number 0146/2024) was filed against the person featured in the video on the night of November 30 at the Cyber Police Station in South Mumbai.
The Election Commission reiterated its stance, emphasizing that EVMs are stand-alone machines that are immune to tampering. They clarified that these machines cannot be connected to any networks, including Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and reiterated that the possibility of manipulating EVMs is non-existent. The Commission also highlighted that the Supreme Court of India has consistently expressed confidence in the integrity of EVMs. To further dispel doubts and myths surrounding EVMs, the Election Commission has published a detailed FAQ on its official website.
In its statement regarding this latest incident, the Election Commission recalled a similar case from 2019, where an FIR was filed against the same individual in Delhi for making false claims about EVM tampering. Reports suggest that the man featured in the viral video, identified as Shuja Syed, may currently be in the United States, having originally hailed from Kerala. During a sting operation, he allegedly claimed that he could hack the EVMs in 63 constituencies for ₹53 crores. The clip from this operation has since gone viral on social media, prompting the Election Commission to issue a warning against spreading false claims.
As the debate surrounding EVM integrity continues, authorities are taking steps to address misinformation and ensure the electoral process remains transparent and trustworthy.
