A poll official in Mumbai on Sunday dismissed allegations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) hacking in the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat, stating that the EVM is a “standalone device” with “robust administrative safeguards” to protect it from any kind of manipulation. she further added that no OTP is required to unlock it.
Vandana Suryavanshi, the returning officer of Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency, while reacting to a newspaper report about kin of Ravindra Waikar, the Shiv Sena candidate who won by a 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 complete lie being spread by a newspaper. We have issued notice to Mid-day newspaper under sections 499, 505 of the Indian Penal Code for defamation and spreading false news,” Suryavanshi said during a press conference on Sunday.
The Returning Officer has issued a notice to the said newspaper for spreading disinformation about the EVM and creating doubts in the Indian Electrol System.
Mangesh Pandilkar, brother-in-law of Waikar, was booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 188 (disobeying official order) on Wednesday for allegedly using a mobile phone at a counting centre in Goregaon on June 4.
Suryavanshi further added that the personal mobile phone of one Dinesh Gurav, the data entry operator of the 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 phones, which is an unfortunate incident and is being probed,” Suryavanshi said.
“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 added.
The official further noted that neither Waikar nor losing candidate Amol Kirtikar of the Shiv Sena (UBT) had sought a recount. However, verification of invalid postal ballots was demanded and it was done.
Suryavanshi said CCTV footage in connection with the issue cannot be given unless there are orders from the competent court.
(With PTI inputs)
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