BENGALURU: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Karnataka has revealed a significant voter deletion scam in the Aland constituency during the 2023 assembly elections. Investigators have identified six suspects who allegedly charged Rs 80 for each deleted voter name. Reports indicate that attempts were made to remove a total of 6,994 names from the electoral rolls, with most of these deletions being fraudulent, particularly targeting Dalit and minority voters.

The investigation began after Congress leaders, including MLA B R Patil and Minister Priyank Kharge, alerted the Chief Electoral Officer about the irregularities. Following their complaints, the SIT was formed to delve deeper into the matter. The deletions reportedly occurred between December 2022 and February 2023, facilitated through a cyber centre in Aland that gained unauthorized access to the Election Commission's portal.

A CID official stated, "At least 6,000 votes have been allegedly deleted," and confirmed that the deletions were halted after the CEO ordered a status quo. The suspects are believed to have received a total of Rs 4.8 lakh for their operations. The SIT has conducted raids on the premises of the suspects, including former BJP MLA Subhash Guttedar and his family, seizing several electronic devices.

In a recent statement, Priyank Kharge expressed, "Voters deleted for just Rs 80 in Aland. The latest findings from the Karnataka SIT confirm what we've been saying all along, over 6,000 genuine voters were struck off the rolls through a paid operation ahead of the 2023 elections in Aland." He emphasized that the investigation points to foul play by BJP functionaries.

The situation escalated when burnt voter records were discovered near Guttedar's residence. He claimed that the documents were destroyed as part of routine housekeeping ahead of Diwali, denying any malicious intent. Aland MLA B R Patil, who won the election by a margin of about 10,000 votes, stated he would await the SIT's findings before commenting further on the investigation's progress.

The ongoing probe highlights serious concerns regarding electoral integrity in Karnataka, with implications that could extend beyond Aland as the SIT continues its investigation into potential similar activities in other areas.