Aland case stands as living proof for Rahul Gandhi's 'vote chori' campaign: BR Patil

Authorities had uncovered a conspiracy involving forged Form-7 applications, used to delete or add names from the electoral rolls, in the Aland constituency ahead of the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections

Kalaburagi: Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman BR Patil has said that the Aland case stands as a living proof for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'vote chori' campaign.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said the Election Commission of India (ECI) has failed to respond to the State CID's request to provide critical technical data, stalling the progress of the probe.

Pointing out that the authorities had uncovered a systematic conspiracy involving forged Form-7 applications, used to delete or add names from the electoral rolls, in the Aland constituency ahead of the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, he said the ECI shared source IP logs and metadata with the CID during the initial phase of the investigation in 2023. However, the follow-up request for destination IPs and port details, which are essential to identify the devices used to submit the forged applications, has gone unanswered, he said.

Patil, who represents the Aland constituency, also contended that the forensic tracing of the fraudulent operation is impossible without the destination IP and port data, according to the CID. As a result, the investigation has been stalled, he added.

"Out of the 6,018 Form-7 applications, only 24 were genuine, while the remaining 5,994 were fraudulent. In one alarming instance, a single individual had submitted deletion requests for 40 voters. The then Returning Officer had filed a complaint, and an FIR was registered at the Aland police station," the senior Congress leader explained.

Suspects collusion

Stating that the very purpose of the investigation is to uncover the mastermind behind the conspiracy to delete genuine voters, he suspected collusion between his opponent BJP candidate and the ECI. This investigation is not just about technical data; it is about democratic accountability. Identifying the individuals or entities responsible for attempting to disenfranchise nearly 6,000 voters is essential to preserving the integrity of free and fair elections, he said.

"I would have lost the previous election if the conspiracy to delete the voters had been successful. If such a plot is allowed to hijack democracy, it places the entire democratic system in jeopardy. The name of the main conspirator must come to light. My fight for justice will continue. I have been in constant touch with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge over the issue, and the party high command will take appropriate steps about the course of action in this regard," he said.

Accusing the ECI of failing to respond to the earlier probes conducted by the Deputy Superintendent of Police and the Additional Superintendent of Police on the issue, he said that cybercrime division was also investigating the case. Such a fraudulent operation was undertaken in the constituencies where there were slender victory margins, he alleged.