Kalaburagi
A shocking twist has emerged in the Alanda assembly constituency vote case, revealing a large-scale attempt to manipulate the voter list. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the so-called “vote theft” has disclosed that 6,018 fake applications were submitted online, with each application costing ₹80.
The investigation revealed that four unemployed men, aged between 25 and 30, were involved. The accused, identified as Akram, Ashfaq, Mustaq, and Nadeem, used five computers in a data center to submit the applications to the Election Commission website. Their actions aimed to remove legitimate voter names from the rolls.
Officials said that the accused misused 75 mobile phone numbers belonging to people from weaker sections of society across the country. Each login required a One Time Password (OTP), leading investigators to suspect the possibility of hacking or external assistance. The SIT is actively probing how the mobile numbers were accessed and used for the fraudulent submissions.
Among the accused, one worked as an online political observer, another as a data operator, and the other two managed online submissions. The SIT has interrogated Akram, Nadeem, and Mustaq, while Ashfaq, who moved to Dubai during the investigation, may be brought back for questioning.
The case traces back to a 2023 FIR filed in Alanda following a complaint by the Election Commission of India. Investigators are examining the wider network that may have helped the accused in coordinating the fake applications and bypassing OTP security protocols.
Authorities stress that such actions undermine the integrity of the democratic process. Officials confirmed that the probe is ongoing and more details may emerge as the SIT examines digital records and traces the misuse of mobile devices.
The Alanda vote scam has drawn national attention, with questions raised about election security, the protection of voter data, and measures to prevent similar fraud in the future. The SIT has assured the public that strict action will be taken against those responsible.
