Fallout of EVM 'hacking' claims: Probe sought into Gopinath Munde's death

NCP leader Dhananjay Munde on Monday night demanded a probe either by the R&AW or a Supreme Court judge into the death of his uncle and former Union minister Gopinath Munde in 2014. The demand came after a cyber expert claimed that the BJP leader was "killed" as he was aware of hacking of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

Dhananjay, who is the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, also termed as "shocking" the claims made by the self-proclaimed US-based Indian cyber expert.

He said those who loved Gopinath had always raised questions over his death, wondering "whether it actually was an accident or sabotage".

Gopinath died in a road accident in New Delhi weeks after the BJP won the 2014 elections. "A cyber expert has made a sensational claim that former Union Minister Late Gopinathrao Munde saheb was murdered. This claim needs immediate attention and investigation from RAW/Supreme Court, as it is directly linked to the death of mass leader. #EVMHacking," Dhananjay tweeted.

"Everybody who followed Munde saheb's leadership and loved him had raised questions about his death. After today's revelation, the doubt has been addressed. If the claim of #EVMHacking is true, then it also violate the norms of the biggest democracy of the world(sic)," the NCP leader added.

In another tweet in Marathi, Dhananjay Munde said, "Each of those who loved Munde Saheb had doubted that he died in the accident, but it was a sabotage. Hence, the startling claims made by cyber expert Syed Suja in a live press conference backs the suspicion," he said.

The cyber expert, identified as Syed Shuja who is seeking political asylum in the US, Monday claimed that the 2014 elections were "rigged" through EVMs, which, he says, can be hacked.

The Election Commission of India denied the charge.

Addressing a press conference in London via Skype, Shuja said he fled India in 2014 because he felt threatened in the country after the killing of some of his team members.

The cyber expert also claimed that BJP leader Gopinath Munde was "killed" because he was aware of EVM hacking in the elections.

He provided no proof to back up his claim.

Shuja also claimed that NIA officer Tanzil Ahmed, who was investigating Gopinath's death, was planning to file an FIR, noting that the BJP leader had been murdered, but was himself killed.

The CBI in October 2014 ruled out any foul play in the death of Gopinath Munde, claiming that the politician had died due to injuries sustained in a road accident.