THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Nov 9: Palamu police have begun their investigation into whether ECI’s Suvidha app has been manipulated by cybercriminals.
It’s a grotesque case of undue influence at elections in one of the 5 assembly constituencies in Palamu district.
The case is both intriguing and enigmatic at first sight. Although as per the FIR lodged, this case has not affected the date of other contestants for using a common venue i.e. the Karpoori Ground nevertheless the case has all the ingredients of cyber fraud.
A criminal case under section 171 BNS (undue influence at elections) and other two sections of the IT act has been registered against unidentified cyber criminals or criminals with the Hussainabad police station.
The criminal case has been lodged by the nodal officer of Hussainabad assembly constituency cum CO Pankaj Kumar. The criminal case was lodged on November 5.
The officer-in-charge of the Hussainabad police station, Sanjay Yadav, has confirmed it saying, “This FIR number 230 / 2024 under section 171 of the BNS and other two sections of the IT act has been registered against unidentified cybercriminal on November 5 and this criminal case will be investigated by the inspector of police Suresh Kumar.”
Police officer Yadav said, ” There is an alleged tampering with the Suvidha app. The Suvidha app is for the contestants to apply for permission for space and time for either a public meeting or touchdown of the chopper etc.”
The online application for permission is to be made one week ahead of the programme that a contestant wants to have.
“Here a poll agent Ganesh Kr Chowdhury of the BSP candidate from Hussainabad assembly constituency Kushwaha Sheopujan Mehta made an online application for permission to use Karpoori Ground on November 6, 7 and 8 for his party candidate by applying on October 30, 31 and November 1.” added police officer Yadav.
Chowdhury was seeking permissions quite legitimately as all his 3 dates, November 6,7 and 8 were well within the prescribed condition of 7 days from the dates of applications, added police Officer Yadav.
Here the alleged tampering was discovered.
This alleged tampering was not to disrupt the dates for the BSP to use the Karpoori Ground as found in the complaint lodged by the nodal officer.
BSP’s poll agent Ganesh Kr Chowdhury has a different issue.
He contends that the BJP team applied for the same Karpoori Ground on October 30 only for permission to use Karpoori Ground on November 10 and 11.
Chowdhury has raised the issue of ‘crossing the 7-day prescribed limit’ which is against the provisions as laid down in the Suvidha app.
A police officer said, “There is a substance in the contention of Chowdhury. An application for permission made on October 30 can’t be entitled to have a validity of use of the venue here at Karpoori Ground on November 10 and 11. It at be only for November 6 as per the 7 days”.
The complainant of the FIR, here the nodal officer of Hussainabad assembly constituency cum Circle Officer has conceded in his complaint with the Hussainabad police station that an unidentified cyber-criminal has fudged the mandatory one-week provision in the case of the online application for permission filed on October 30 by the BJP team.
It’s 4 days left now from Saturday when 5 assembly constituencies of Palamu will go to polls.
This case involving the Karpoori Ground where contestants hold their election gathering is at the core of the controversy.
There is no official word so far whether an application for permission filed online on October 30 by the BJP wherein November 9 and 10 dates are to be reserved for the party for the Karpoori Ground, is rejected or cancelled as the online application for permission jumps over the week ahead provision.
