Rahul Gandhi had made allegations of vote theft in Aland assembly constituency during the assembly elections (file photo)
Digital Desk, New Delhi. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged 'vote theft' that took place in Aland assembly constituency in the 2023 assembly elections in Karnataka has filed a charge sheet. Former BJP MLA Subhash Guttedar, his son and five other accused have been named in the charge sheet of more than 22 thousand pages filed before the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Bengaluru.
According to IANS, Subhash and his son have been made the main accused. It is noteworthy that this charge sheet has been filed a day before the Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Sunday against the alleged 'vote theft'. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi had alleged that votes were stolen in Aland assembly constituency during the assembly elections.
What was claimed in the charge sheet?
According to sources in the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the charge sheet gives detailed information about how the names of voters were removed from the voter list. It is alleged that names of 5,994 voters were removed from the voter list of Aland constituency by setting up a call centre.
It has been claimed in the charge sheet that the former MLA had paid for the manipulation of voter data. The charge sheet includes the names of four-time MLA from Aland, Subhash Guttedar, his son Harshanand, his personal secretary Tipperudra, three operators of Kalaburagi's data center Akram Pasha, Mukarram Pasha and Mohammad Ashfaq as well as Bapi Aadya of Bengal.
Aadya was the first person to be arrested in this case. It is alleged that he operated a website named OTP Bazaar. This website was linked to a US-based platform to provide OTP bypass facility. Aadya was later released on bail. Congress MLA BR. After Patil made allegations of vote theft, senior IPS officer B.K. SIT was formed under the leadership of Singh.
DK Shivkumar started the campaign
A special court had granted anticipatory bail to Subhash, his son and Tipperudra, sources said. Harshanand on Saturday denied the allegations against him and said that he and his father have been implicated in a false case.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that a campaign against 'vote theft' has started from Freedom Park in Bengaluru. Thousands of people will participate in the rally against 'vote theft' at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on Sunday. Shivkumar is also going to Delhi to participate in the rally.
Shivraj Patil's last rites were performed according to Lingayat tradition, he died at the age of 90.