Karnataka SIT finds Rs 80 paid for every fraud voter deletion application in Aland seat
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Bengaluru: The Karnataka Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged voter list irregularities in the Aland Assembly constituency has found that a data centre operator was paid Rs 80 for each fraudulent voter deletion, Indian Express reported.
According to the SIT, a total of 6,018 applications for voter name deletions were submitted between December 2022 and February 2023, amounting to an estimated Rs 4.8 lakh in payments.
The Aland case is among those cited by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in his 'vote chori' allegations against the BJP.
The SIT, which took over the Aland voter deletion probe on September 26, has identified a data centre in Kalaburagi district headquarters as the location from which the applications were allegedly submitted. Officials quoted in the report said the investigation, which was first handled by local police after the deletions came to light in February 2023, and later by the CID cyber crime unit before being transferred to the SIT, has pointed to the involvement of a local resident, Mohammed Ashfaq.
Questioned in 2023, Ashfaq was let off after he claimed innocence and promised to surrender electronic devices in his possession. He moved to Dubai subsequently.
The SIT’s investigation into the voter data manipulation case has revealed that Ashfaq was allegedly in contact via internet calls with associates Md Akram, Junaid, Aslam, and Nadeem, according to analysis of seized devices and IP records. Searches at their properties last week reportedly uncovered evidence of a data centre in the Kalaburagi region used for tampering with voter lists, where each deletion was allegedly priced at Rs 80. The probe indicates that Akram and Ashfaq operated the centre, while the others worked as data entry operators, with key recoveries including a laptop used to process the applications.
Following these recoveries, the SIT on October 17 searched properties linked to BJP leader Guttedar, his sons Harshananda and Santhosh, and their chartered accountant associate Mallikarjun Mahantagol. Officers reportedly seized over seven laptops and multiple mobile phones during the raids and are now tracing the source of funds used for the alleged payouts.
The inquiry has also revealed that 75 mobile numbers, ranging from those of poultry farm workers to relatives of policemen, were allegedly used to register with the Election Commission portal to place requests for changes in voter lists of Aland.
The SIT is still investigating how the data centre operators gained access to the EC portal using fake credentials to submit voter deletion requests. According to the report, the identities used in these applications were entered without the knowledge of either the Aland-based applicants or the voters concerned.
Meanwhile, Guttedar, a four-time MLA from Aland, has denied any role in the alleged voter deletion scheme, claiming the accusations were politically motivated. He alleged that his rival, B. R. Patil, made the charges for personal and political gain, aiming to secure a ministerial position and win favour with Rahul Gandhi.
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Dr. Thumbay Moideen featured in Entrepreneur Middle East 100 NRI’s of the year
Dubai: Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder of Thumbay Group has been featured in this year's “The 100 NRIs by Entrepreneur Middle East.”
The annual feature recognises 100 prominent Non-Resident Indian entrepreneurs from diverse fields. Other notable names on the list include Zakariya Jokatte, Ashish Koshy, Deepak Babani, Pankaj Kundr, Faizal E. Kottikollon, Dr. Vivek Oberoi, and Prashant Goenka.
Dr. Thumbay Moideen, son of the late community leader B. Ahmed Haji Mohiudeen, is a prominent alumnus of St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru. He has earned widespread recognition in the UAE and beyond for his contributions to higher education and healthcare. He is also a recipient of the Karnataka State Rajyotsava Award 2025.
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In 1997, Dr. Moideen founded the Thumbay Group, a diversified international conglomerate that has expanded into health education, healthcare services, and medical research. In 1998, he became the first Indian invited by the rulers of Ajman to establish a medical college in the UAE, which has now grown into a university with its own network of hospitals, clinics, medical centers, and pharmacies across the country.
Dr. Moideen’s achievements have been recognised in respected publications, including Forbes Middle East and Arabian Business. He has also received an Honorary Fellowship from the International Medical Sciences Academy (IMSA) and an honorary doctorate from Amity University.
Today, Thumbay Group institutions cater to students and healthcare professionals from over 100 nationalities, contributing to workforce development and research-driven healthcare practices. Dr. Moideen is widely regarded as one of the most influential Non-Resident Indians in the Gulf, a respected voice from the Beary community, and a leading Muslim entrepreneur and educationist.
Over the past decades, he has steered Thumbay Group’s expansion into a multi-sector organisation focusing on academic medicine, research-led healthcare, and global education. His initiatives have created opportunities for thousands of healthcare professionals and students while strengthening healthcare delivery systems and academic collaboration across regions.
