EC won't be coerced into giving up EVMs: CEC Sunil Arora warns Opposition leaders
The officer said that as Section 505 is non-cognisable, police have sought permission from court to initiate an investigation.
Speaking at an event in Delhi, the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said there was no going back to ballot papers.
He said: "We will continue to use EVMs & VVPATs. We are open to any criticism & feedback from any stakeholder including political parties. At the same time, we are not going to be intimidated, bullied or coerced into giving up these and start era of ballot papers. I would like to make it very clear that we are not going back to the era of ballot papers."
The Delhi Police has registered a case based on a complaint filed by the Election Commission regarding allegations of hacking of EVMs and rigging of polls levelled by self-proclaimed cyber expert Syed Shuja, officials said Wednesday."Based on a complaint received from the Election Commission, an FIR has been registered under Section 505 of the Indian Penal Code (intent to cause fear or public mischief) at Parliament Street police station. Action will be taken as per the law," a senior police officer said.
The officer said that as Section 505 is non-cognisable, police have sought permission from court to initiate an investigation. He also suggested that the case be investigated by a specialised agency as it requires an in-depth investigation and use of cyber tools. On Tuesday, the poll panel had filed a complaint with the Delhi Police, asking it to register an FIR against Syed Shuja, who during a press conference in London on Monday, claimed that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) can be hacked, and the 2014 Lok Sabha elections were rigged.In its complaint, the poll panel had asked police to investigate the matter "promptly" for violation of certain IPC sections dealing with spreading rumour to "create fear" in the minds of people.
Nirmala Sitharaman dared the Congress to step down from power in Madhya Pradesh where assembly elections were held recently.
A self-styled cyber expert had days ago claimed that EVMs could be hacked and alleged that the 2014 general elections were rigged.
To a question on Tamil Nadu Congress demanding an inquriy into claims that EVMs could be hacked following a hackathon in London recently, she told reporters here that "if they win, EVM is working properly, if they lose EVMs do not function properly, and that too in a foreign country." The Defence Minister attacked the Congress for what she termed pursuing the path of weakening democracy. "This is an effort by the Congress to weaken democracy." "The Congress party won the Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan Assembly elections only through the Electronic Voting Machine," she said and blamed the Rahul Gandhi-led party for changing stand on EVMs according to their convenience.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Wednesday defended Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), saying it was "perfectly fine" and suggested that there will not be any problem if voter verifiable paper audit trails (VVPAT) are made available at every polling stations.
Amid raging debate over EVMs, which opposition leaders have been critical of, Kumar said he was not in agreement with the things said.In an apparent dig at the Congress, which is among opposition parties who are criticising EVMs, Kumar asked "during whose time the EVM system was introduced?" "My stand on the use of EVM is very clear. EVMs are perfectly fine. There will not be any problem if VVPAT is made available at every polling stations. I do not agree with things which are being said about EVM. In my view, EVM has strengthened people's right to vote," Kumar told reporters.