Congress says Bommai is ‘kingpin’ in ‘votegate scam’

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru:

As a latest development in the ongoing political storm over the alleged voters data theft case in the city, the police have arrested two people including the Director of the NGO and have intensified the probe into the case. The 37th ACMM court has sent both the accused to eight-day police custody.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leaders on Saturday said that they had approached the State Election Commission office and had held a protest against the irregularities. KPCC President DK Shivakumar, LoP Siddaramaiah along with other members had filed a case against the alleged involvement of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Minister CN Ashwath Narayan in voter data fraud.

Addressing a press conference along with all the Congress leaders later that day, Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the Chief Electoral Officer had denied authorising Bommai government or the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to collect data from the people and share it on the digital app.

He questioned the Chief Minister on how the fraud took place without coming into the notice of the state government. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka Manoj Kumar Meena asked the regional commissioner of Bengaluru to conduct a detailed inquiry into the allegations and immediate seizure of citizen data and other materials in possession of private firms.

DK Shivakumar asked his party workers to examine electoral rolls at the booth level after alleged unauthorised voter data collection by Chilume Educational Cultural and Rural Development Trust in Bengaluru. Soon after the case against Chilume Group was filed by the BBMP Special Commissioner, Administration, Rangappa S, the Halasuru Gate police rushed to the NGO’s office near Malleswaram but found the office shifted to another place.

The police seized electronic devices from the premises and are verifying them for more information. It was also alleged that during the raid, the police found several envelopes, brochures belonging to another firm and a cheque belonging to one of the BJP leaders. Sources from the police said that the name will soon be out once the investigation is done.

BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath on Saturday said that Mahadevapura Revenue Officer Chandrashekhar has been suspended in connection with the data theft case in Mahadevapura constituency. It is being alleged that the RO had joined hands with the accused Chilume Group in the irregularities.