Overview

• An SIT under the Karnataka CID has been constituted, led by ADGP B K Singh and assisted by SPs Saidulu Adavath and Shubhanwita, with police-station powers under the BNSS to examine related cases statewide.
• The decision follows Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ allegations and a complaint by Aland MLA B.R. Patil, who cited 6,670 targeted names across 256 polling stations and documented 6,018 deletion applications in December 2022.
• The Election Commission says statutory safeguards blocked wrongful deletions in Aland, with only 24 of 6,018 Form 7 requests accepted, 5,994 rejected, and an FIR filed by the ERO on February 21, 2023.
• Karnataka CID has requested IP traces, OTP trails and app logs to trace the submissions; Congress leaders allege incomplete EC cooperation, while the Karnataka CEO says available data—objector details, IPs and mobile numbers—was shared on September 6, 2023.
• In Delhi, AAP renewed claims of large-scale voter deletions in the New Delhi seat; the EC cites a 76-page January 13 response and says actions adhered to the Representation of the People Act, with false applications referred to police.