1 more arrested in voter data theft case

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Following the arrest of another representative of the Chilume Organisation in the city, the Halasuru Gate police said that the accused was responsible for collecting and modifying the data collected by the field officers in Mahadevapura branch of the NGO.

Named as the 12th accused in the voters’ data theft case, Anil Kumar was produced before the court on Tuesday, sources told News Trail. The police said that during the interrogation, Anil had stated that he was working with NGO director Ravikumar and had been taking direct orders from him.

Police first arrested Chilume staff Dharmesh and Renuka Prasad from the Malleswaram office of the NGO, and after producing them in court, took them into eight-day police custody. Later, police managed to arrest the directors Kempegowda and Ravikumar, and later Lokesh.

Speaking to the reporters on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bengaluru Central, Srinivas Gowda said that Anil is being interrogated for more information. “We are following a step-by-step investigation procedure and the probe has been intensified to ensure there are no loopholes in the case,” he said.

Further, he said that the police have inquired with 28 revenue officers so far in connection with the scandal, and only those officials, against whom the cops have found evidence have been picked up. “While interrogating the AROs, the police found out about Anil’s involvement in the case,” he added.

Chilume Educational Cultural and Rural Development Organisation, which was to engage in Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation, was reportedly involved in impersonation and tampering with voter data.

Due to alleged manipulation of the poll process, the Election Commission suspended two IAS officers BBMP Special Commissioner S Rangappa and Bengaluru Urban DC K Srinivas, who were also Additional Electoral Registration Officers.

The government appointed ZP CEO Sangappa as Bengaluru Urban DC and Solid Waste Commissioner Harish Kumar as Admin Commissioner with additional charge. A detailed probe is underway, the official said.