Karnataka: SIT Identifies Six Others and a Former BJP MLA in the Aland “Vote Chori” Case

Karnataka: A former BJP MLA, his son, and his close aide are among the seven individuals named in a charge sheet issued by the SIT, which is investigating the alleged “vote chori” (vote stealing) in the Aland Assembly seat in the 2023 Assembly elections in Karnataka.

The charge sheet, submitted by the Special Investigation Team before the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Bengaluru, concerns purported attempts to erase the identities of 5,994 voters.

The charge sheet, according to CID sources, is more than 22,000 pages long and provides a detailed explanation of the method used to remove the voters’ identities.

Subhash Guttedar, a four-time former Aland MLA, his son Harshanand Guttedar; Tipperudra, his personal secretary; three data center operators from Kalaburagi, Akram Pasha, Mukaram Pasha, and Mohammed Ashfaq, and Bapi Adya from West Bengal are all included on the charge sheet.

Adya was the first individual in the investigation to be taken into custody. He reportedly ran the website OTPbazaar, which was connected to a platform in the United States to provide a “OTP bypass” service. Later on, he was freed on bond.

According to reports, Guttedar, his son, and Tipperudra had already been granted anticipatory release by a special court.

Harshanand denied the accusations against him on Saturday, claiming that he and his father were the victims of a fabricated case.

Speaking to media in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said that the campaign against the vote chori drive began at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park. Thousands of people would participate in the anti-vote chori protest event that has been planned for Sunday at Ram Leela Maidan in Delhi, he said.

According to the Deputy CM, around 100 lawmakers and state-wide congressional leaders are participating.

Shivakumar said that he plans to join the protest event in Delhi as well. As the head of the Congress Karnataka state unit, he must provide for lodging for state residents.

“Despite our setback, we remain optimistic in our ability to raise awareness. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge is spearheading the campaign, while Congress MP Rahul Gandhi organized the demonstration. The Deputy Chief Minister said, “We are heading there to help them.