Police find voters data theft case a hard nut to crack

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: Suspicion, however strong, cannot take the place of proof and an accused is presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty.

In a latest instance for the above statement, the city police probing the voters data theft scandal by Chilume Trust in the city, are finding it hard to make the prime accused in the case, reveal as to how the Chilume Trust NGO was able to hire field level officials and conduct free awareness campaign to collect the personal details of the residents while conducting door-to-door surveys.

Also, the source of money to carry out the activities remains unknown so far. According to police sources, Ravikumar, the realtor from Dabaspet, has many links from influential persons to politicians in the state through his phone and email.

However the accused has been very cunning while answering the questions posed by the police during inquiry. After the scandal surfaced, the city police have arrested five people and have collected some electronic evidence including six mobile phones, two computers and laptops during a raid in connection with the case.

However as the mystery deepens, the case has become a headache for the Bengaluru police. While two FIRs have been filed against the NGO under sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating) and 468 (forgery) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by the BBMP, a tug of war between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress party continues