EVM Hacking Claim: Police Register Case Against Hacker Syed Shuja
EVM Hacking Claim: Police Register Case Against Hacker Syed Shuja
Cyber Police in Mumbai have filed a case against Syed Shuja, who claims to have hacked Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Maharashtra elections. The Election Commission (EC) has lodged a complaint over his baseless and false claims.
A video surfaced in which Syed Shuja allegedly claimed that he could hack and tamper with EVMs by isolating their frequency. The Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) lodged a complaint with the Cyber Police, stating that the claims were unsubstantiated and false. An FIR was filed at the Dakshin Mumbai Cyber Police Station on November 30, 2024, against Shuja.
False Claim Regarding EVM: A video was shared by some Social media users where a person is making false, baseless and unsubstantiated claims to hack and tamper EVMs inMaharashtra elections by isolation of EVM frequency. (https://t.co/FZ6YX6GORU)
— ChiefElectoralOffice (@CEO_Maharashtra) December 1, 2024
Clarification: @ECISVEEP pic.twitter.com/OuJl33ekco
This isn’t the first time Shuja has made such claims. In 2019, a similar complaint was filed in Delhi, and Shuja is believed to be hiding in another country. The Election Commission is determined to tackle any misinformation related to the integrity of the EVMs, especially after the recent Maharashtra elections.
Here is a memorandum just submitted to @ECISVEEP on the Maharashtra assembly elections by Shri @NANA_PATOLE, Shri @MukulWasnik, and Shri Ramesh @chennithala
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) November 29, 2024
They have raised serious issues which are being discussed in the public domain. They have asked the EC for an in-person… pic.twitter.com/K4zfx5tjhF
In the aftermath of the Maharashtra assembly elections, where the Mahayuti coalition won 230 seats and Mahavikas Aghadi secured only 46, there has been growing suspicion around the EVMs. Various opposition parties, particularly Congress, raised concerns regarding the credibility of the results.
Congress submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission alleging inconsistencies in the electoral process, including:
• Arbitrary removal of voter names and the addition of over 10,000 new voters to each assembly constituency.
• A surge of 47 lakh new voters added to Maharashtra’s electoral rolls between July and November 2024, with 50,000 new voters in constituencies where the ruling alliance won.
• Unexplained voting trends, such as 76 lakh votes cast in a single hour on November 20, 2024, raising doubts about the accuracy of the voter turnout data.
Public Protest and Continued Suspicion
Doubts over EVM fairness have led to public protests, including a self-immolation attempt by Samajwadi leader Baba Adhaav. Despite these claims and protests, the Election Commission maintains that the EVMs are secure and there is no evidence of tampering.
