Shivsena’s candidate Ravindra Waikar outside Nesco vote counting centre on June 04. File Pic/Anurag Ahire
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During investigations, the Vanrai police has found that the accused Mangesh Pandilkar, relative of Ravindra Waikar – Shiv Sena candidate who won the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat by 48 votes – was using the phone which was connected to the Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs). Police said this mobile phone was used for generating the OTP that unlocked the EVM machine, which was used inside the NESCO Centre on June 4.
The Vanrai police also sent a CRPC 41A notice to the accused Mangesh Pandilkar and Dinesh Gurav who was the ENCORE (poll portal) operator with the Election Commission (EC). The police have now sent the mobile phone to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to find the mobile phone data and also are taking fingerprints that are on the phone. According to the police officials, the incident occurred on June 4 at NESCO centre during the counting of votes for the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency.
Speaking with mid-day, senior inspector Rampiyare Rajbhar of Vanrai police station said, “We have sent the mobile phone to forensics that will be looking into the call records. We are also checking if the mobile phone was used for any other reasons. We have recorded the statement of the other candidates and a notice has been sent to the accused Mangesh Pandilkar and Dinesh Gurav. They will have to come to the police station for the investigation. They seem to be cooperating with us for now if this stops, we will issue an arrest warrant.”
According to the police officials, the FIR was registered on June 14 by the Election Commission officer at Vanrai police station on the receiving complaint of candidates who were contesting the seat with Waikar, Arora and Bharat Shah. A police officer said, “Now, we are now looking at CCTV cameras of the NESCO centre which might help us know how the mobile phone made its way inside the centre. We are also exploring the angle if more accused are involved in this crime or to find out who supplied this mobile phone.”
What happened?
On June 4, the incident occurred inside the NESCO centre during voting day, and Ravindra Waikar and candidate Amol Kirtikar was present. Police also found that a Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) for Service Voter, which is also used after using EVM machines. To unlock the postal ballot system, Gurav used the same mobile phone and generated OTP. During the counting of votes through the EVM machine,the candidate Amol Kirtikar was ahead but when the votes on the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System were counted, Kirtikar lagged behind, eventually losing the race to Waikar.
