Cops, poll officials deny media report about EVM 'unlocking'; NCP (SP), Cong express concern
Mumbai, Jun 16: A poll official on Sunday said an EVM was a standalone system with "robust administrative safeguards" to protect it from any kind of manipulation and that there was no need of an OTP to unlock it.
Vandana Suryavanshi, returning officer of Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency, was reacting to a report in newspapers about a kin of Ravindra Waikar, the Shiv Sena candidate who emerged victorious there by a wafer thin margin of 48 votes, using a mobile phone connected to an EVM during vote counting on June 4.
"The EVM is a standalone system and there is no need for an OTP to unlock it. It is not programmable and has no wireless communication capabilities. It is a lie being spread by a newspaper," Suryavanshi said in a press conference on Sunday.
Suryavanshi said notices had been issued to Mid-day and Marathi daily Lokmat for allegedly publishing false news, adding they have been asked to respond within 24 hours as to why criminal proceedings under section 499 and 505 should not be initiated.
As per Vanrai police, Mangesh Pandilkar, brother-in-law of Waikar, was booked under Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobeying official order) on Wednesday for allegedly using a mobile phone at a counting centre in Goregaon on June 4, when results of the general elections were announced.
Speaking at the press conference, Suryavanshi said the personal mobile phone of one Dinesh Gurav, the data entry operator of Jogeshwari assembly constituency, was found in the hands of an unauthorised person and action is being taken in this regard.
"Data entry and vote counting are two different aspects. An OTP enables the ARO to open the encore login system for data entry. The counting process is independent and has nothing to do with unauthorised use of mobile phone, which is an unfortunate incident and is being probed," Suryavanshi added.
"Advance technical features and robust administrative safeguards are in place to rule out any possibility of manipulation. Safeguards include conducting everything in the presence of candidates or their agents," she said.
The official said neither Waikar or losing candidate Amol Kirtikar of the Shiv Sena (UBT) had sought a recount but verification of invalid postal ballots was demanded and it was done.
"The counting ETPBS (electronically transmitted postal ballot system) happens in physical form (postal ballots) and not electronically as is being spread as part of a false narrative. Every counting sheet at every table for ETPBS, EVM and postal ballot counting (including ETPBS) is signed by counting agents after due diligence," Suryavanshi asserted.
Suryavanshi said CCTV footage in connection with the issue cannot be given unless there are orders from the competent court.
A Mumbai police official also refuted the news report and said no personnel attached to Vanrai police station had given such information (about Waikar's kin's mobile phone being used to generate OTP to unlock EVM).
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the poll result of Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat must be stayed.
The Election Commission of India must call a meeting of all parties and discuss this issue thoroughly, he demanded.
"There must be a probe into the unauthorised used of the mobile phone. The FIR report has not been made public," Chavan said.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) spokesperson Clyde Crasto said the fact that a relative of Ravindra Waikar had access to the mobile phone of an Election Commission official is a cause for concern.
The EC's polling officer has said OTP is required only for data entry of the vote counting process, which means generation of this OTP can also give access to data to Waikar's kin and it can be manipulated by him or his team, Crasto asserted.
"This is very serious. The ECI needs to come clean on what transpired in the time the phone was with Waikar's team," he said.
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Four arrested for illegal cattle transport to Kerala, 27 buffaloes rescued
Mangaluru (Karnataka) (PTI): Four persons were arrested on Saturday for allegedly transporting cattle illegally to Kerala and 27 buffaloes being carried in a "cruel" manner in a truck were rescued on National Highway 66 in the city, police said.
The arrested accused hailed from Shivamogga, Haveri and Hassan districts, they said.
According to police, the vehicle transporting the animals from Haveri district in Karnataka to Taliparamba in Kerala was intercepted at Jappinamogaru under the jurisdiction of the Mangaluru City Police during an early morning patrol around 6 am.
Police said the animals were being transported without valid documents and in violation of animal welfare norms. The buffaloes were rescued and the truck used for transportation was seized.
A case has been registered at the Kankanady Town police station under provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a senior police officer said.
Police said the accused were produced before a court, while the rescued buffaloes were handed over to a goshala (cowshed) as per court directions. Further investigation is underway.
