‘No OTP needed for unlocking EVMs’: Poll officials rubbish news reports

Notice issued to two Mumbai-based newspapers for publishing ‘false’ news

evm-afp Representative image | AFP

A senior polling official on Sunday rubbished media reports that a mobile phone carried by a relative of Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waiker inside a counting centre in Maharashtra’s Goregaon was allegedly used for generating a One-Time Password to unlock the electronic voting machine. 

Vandana Suryavanshi, the Returning Officer of 27 Mumbai North West parliamentary constituency, said no OTP on mobile phone is needed for unlocking EVMs.

"There is no OTP on mobile for unlocking EVM as it is non programmable and it has no wireless communication capabilities. It is a complete lie being spread by a newspaper, which is being used by some leaders to create false narrative," she said at a press conference.

The officer further clarified that the incident at the counting centre in Mumbai was regarding unauthorised use of mobile phone inside the counting centre and that the returning officer has already filed a criminal case against the person.

"EVMs are stand alone devices without any wired or wireless connectivity with units outside EVM system. Advanced technical features and robust administrative safeguards are in place to rule out any possibility of manipulation. Safeguards include conducting everything in the presence of candidates or their agents,” she said.

Suryavanshi said notices had been issued to an English daily and a Marathi newspaper for allegedly publishing false news, adding they have been asked to respond within 24 hours as to why criminal proceedings under section 499 and 505 should not be initiated.

As per Vanrai police, Mangesh Pandilkar, brother-in-law of Waikar, was booked under Indian Penal Code section 188 (disobeying official order) on Wednesday for allegedly using a mobile phone at a counting centre in Goregaon on June 4, when results of the general elections were announced.

Suryavanshi said neither Waikar or losing candidate Amol Kirtikar of the Shiv Sena (UBT) had sought a recount but verification of invalid postal ballots was demanded and it was done. 

"The counting ETPBS (electronically transmitted postal ballot system) happens in physical form (postal ballots) and not electronically as is being spread as part of a false narrative. Every counting sheet at every table for ETPBS, EVM and postal ballot counting (including ETPBS) is signed by counting agents after due diligence," she asserted. 

Congress, NCP raise concerns

Former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the poll result of Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat must be stayed and the Election Commission must call a meeting of all parties and discuss this issue thoroughly.

 "There must be a probe into the unauthorised used of the mobile phone. The FIR report has not been made public," Chavan said.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) spokesperson Clyde Crasto said the fact that a relative of Ravindra Waikar had access to the mobile phone of an Election Commission official is a cause for concern. 

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