Karnataka CEO ordered probe into Rahul Gandhi's election fraud charges: DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Aug 8 (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said the state Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukumar has ordered an investigation into Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of election fraud.
CEO Anbukumar asked Shivakumar to submit documents to support his claims with a declaration or oath as per the rule.
Speaking to reporters after a Congress delegation led by him submitted a memorandum to Anbukumar, Shivakumar said he was informed that they (CEO’s office) have started their investigation. "I am glad to know this."
Shivakumar, who is also Congress state president, said he would visit the CEO’s office again to obtain the documents and evidence.
“In the first phase, we have asked him to provide information to go into the details of every assembly segment, where such incidents have occurred,” the Deputy CM said.
Asked about the BJP’s counter-allegations, Shivakumar said he was not worried about the saffron party.
"Let them (BJP leaders) say whatever they want. We are asking a court, a judge, a commission with autonomous power. We have requested them (Election Commission) to take action because it is the Election Commission’s responsibility to prepare the electoral roll, hold elections and immediately set right things.”
Shivakumar submitted a memorandum to CEO Anbukumar after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged large scale election fraud in Mahadevapura constituency during the Lok Sabha election.
Regarding former Mahadevapura MLA Aravind Limbavali’s statement that there were bogus voters in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s assembly constituency Varuna and Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan’s constituency Chamarajpet in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said the ECI should investigate it.
“Even if there are such issues in my constituency (Kanakapura) I will not mind. Action has to be taken against those who engaged in fraud and are guilty of misuse,” the DCM said.
In a letter to Shivakumar, the CEO said, “With respect to your representation dated 05.08.2025 submitted on 08.08.2025, you have not submitted any documents in support of the references made in the representation.”
“You are hereby kindly requested to submit the documents related to your complaint along with the Declaration/Oath as per Rule 20(3)(b) of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, so as to act upon the complaint,” the official added.
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Separate nodal officer in all districts to prevent female foeticides in Karnataka: Minister
Belagavi (PTI): Accepting that the female foeticide has not stopped in the state, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said that the government is taking strict measures to prevent it.
The minister said the government is appointing separate nodal officers in all districts and tightening measures to prevent foeticide, which he called a "social evil".
He also assured that the government will consider strengthening legislation to control such activities.
The minister was responding to a question by BJP MLC C T Ravi in the Legislative Council.
"Female foeticides have certainly not stopped. If you look at the sex ratio, there is a lot of difference. I accept that this is happening," Rao said.
"Foeticides are not happening under pressure; voluntarily, it is happening, for not wanting a girl child. These things are happening based on the sex determination of the foetus at some hospitals. Sex determination is illegal, but with the advancement in technology, portable ultrasound machines have been developed, which can be easily carried anywhere, and scans and tests can be done. This needs to be controlled. We will bring it to the notice of the central government," he said.
In some districts and in a few hospitals, a higher number of male child births is happening. It is found with the help of intelligence input, the minister said.
"Information is being gathered on the taluk in which the male-female ratio is worsening, what is happening in which hospital, and appropriate action is being taken to crack down on such a network, after proper evaluation."
Decoy operations have been done at seven places in the last two years, to identify those involved in illegal activities linked to female foeticides, and actions have been taken against officials and hospitals involved, he said, adding that more needs to be done on priority.
Responding to a question by Ravi about whether any stringent legislation is being brought, Rao said, the government will consider strengthening the legislation and making it stricter to control this.
"Some amendments have been made to the existing laws in the last two years....advanced technology and the internet is being used to carry out such things, also oral medicines for abortions are available over the counter.
We need to look into bringing legislation to control them. The Food and Drug Administration has issued instructions to pharmacists that the sale of such drugs should be documented."
The minister also said that measures are also being taken for the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, and awareness is being created against the identification of female foetuses and female foeticide.
