"Suspecting the authenticity of such a large volume of deletion requests, the ERO, along with the Assistant EROs and Booth Level Officers (BLOs), conducted a thorough verification of each application," the note read.
Published Sep 18, 2025 | 9:55 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 18, 2025 | 9:55 PM
Electoral rolls
Synopsis: The note from CEO read: “In December 2022, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of 46-Aland Assembly Constituency in Karnataka received 6,018 Form 7 applications for deletion of electors’ names, submitted online through platforms such as NVSP, VHA, and GARUDA apps. Suspecting the authenticity of such a large volume of deletion requests, the ERO, along with the Assistant EROs and Booth Level Officers (BLOs), conducted a thorough verification of each application. The inquiry revealed that only 24 applications were genuine, while 5,994 were found to be incorrect and subsequently rejected, with no deletions carried out based on those false applications.”
Responding to the allegations of voter deletions made by Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi earlier in the day, Karnataka Chief Election Officer noted that incorrect applications of deletion were rejected, and an FIR was filed in the matter in 2023.
The note from CEO read: “In December 2022, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of 46-Aland Assembly Constituency in Karnataka received 6,018 Form 7 applications for deletion of electors’ names, submitted online through platforms such as NVSP, VHA, and GARUDA apps.”
“Suspecting the authenticity of such a large volume of deletion requests, the ERO, along with the Assistant EROs and Booth Level Officers (BLOs), conducted a thorough verification of each application. The inquiry revealed that only 24 applications were genuine, while 5,994 were found to be incorrect and subsequently rejected, with no deletions carried out based on those false applications.”
Further referring to action taken, the CEO claimed that an FIR was filed in February 2023.
“Following the findings by the BLOs, an FIR (No. 26/2023) was filed on February 21, 2023, at Aland Police Station in Kalaburagi district. Acting on instructions from the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka handed over all available data to the Superintendent of Police, Kalaburagi, on September 6, 2023, to assist with the investigation,” the note said.
“This data included detailed information such as the objector’s name, EPIC number, mobile numbers used for login and processing, IP address, software application used, location, form reference number, submission date and time, and user account creation date.”
“To further support the investigation, the CEO held meetings with the Investigating Officer and Cyber Security experts from the police department to review progress and continues to provide full cooperation, including any additional information or documentation required by the investigating agency,” it further added.
Aland Case 2023@ECISVEEP pic.twitter.com/Z35F0PlWPW
— Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka (@ceo_karnataka) September 18, 2025
Rahul Gandhi said in Aland somebody tried to delete 6,018 votes. “A BLO (Booth Level Officer) noticed her uncle’s vote had been deleted. She found that the application was filed by a neighbour. She asked the neighbour, and the neighbour did not know anything,” he said.
He further said that the total number of deleted or added voters is unclear, and it happens across the country.
“People were unaware — including those whose votes were deleted and those on whose behalf applications were filed — as some individuals hijacked the process and deleted names,” Rahul Gandhi said.
“Applications were filed impersonating real people. They were submitted automatically using software. These applications were sent from several states. They were targeted at Congress voters and targeted booths where Congress was winning,” he added.
“Godabai — in whose name the applications were made — had no idea this was being done. The phone numbers used to submit the applications originated from several states outside Karnataka. The questions are: Whose numbers are these? How are they operating? Where are they operating from? How were the OTPs generated?” he questioned.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Nolan Patrick Pinto)
