Cyber expert claims India\'s 2014 general election was \'rigged\'

Cyber expert claims India's 2014 general election was 'rigged'

Press Trust of India  |  London 

An Indian cyber expert, seeking political asylum in the US, Monday claimed that the 2014 was "rigged" through the Electronic Machines (EVMs), which, he says, can be hacked.

He claimed the helped the BJP to get low frequency signals to hack the EVMs.

Shuja said the BJP would have won Rajasthan, and elections if his team hadn't intercepted the BJP attempts to hack the transmissions in these states.

The outlandish and explosive claims, made in a cloak and dagger manner, could not be immediately confirmed. He claimed he was part of a team at the public sector (ECIL), which designed and developed the EVMs. He was presented at a press conference organised by the (Europe).

Although he appeared on screen through Skype, his face was masked.

India's earlier this month said that the EVMs were tamper-proof and an expert committee was looking after their functioning.

There is absolutely nothing to doubt about the integrity of the system, Arora said, adding that the entire functioning of the EVMs is being looked after by a highly-qualified technical committee.

Several political parties in the past have alleged that the EVMs are prone to tampering and demanded reintroduction of the ballot papers.

Speaking at the event in London, Shuja claimed that he worked for the ECIL from 2009-2014.

Shuja said that he was part of a team which designed the EVMs used in the 2014 elections. He said that he and his team were instructed by the ECIL to find out if EVMs could be hacked, and find out how to do this.

"The 2014 were rigged," he claimed.

He also alleged that the Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and election results were rigged during the elections.

The cyber expert claimed that the EVMs were hacked by the BJP using a modulator which transmits military-grade frequency.

The cyber expert also claimed that and union minister was "killed" because he was aware of EVM hacking in 2014

Munde died in a road accident in New weeks after the BJP won the 2014 elections.

Shuja also claimed the investigating Munde's death, Tanzil Ahmed, was planning to file an FIR noting he had been murdered, but was himself killed.

"In state elections in 2015, we managed to intercept the transmission, resulting in the winning 67 out of 70 seats. Otherwise the BJP would have swept," he claimed.

He said that other than the BJP, the SP, BSP, and too are involved in the EVMs rigging.

Shuja said some of his team members were killed and he was also allegedly attacked but survived.

He said he met a prominent Indian and told him the whole story about the EVM rigging.

The and political parties were invited to be at press meet but only attended the event, he added.

Soon after Shuja's press meet in London, said the opposition will take up with the the claims made by the US-based cyber expert that Electronic Machines (EVMs) can be hacked.

"Our great democracy must be protected. Every vote of yours is precious. All Oppn parties discussed the #EVM issue after the #UnitedIndiaAtBrigade rally. We are working closely together and decided on Jan 19 itself to consistently take up the matter with EC. Yes, every vote counts," she tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, January 21 2019. 19:25 IST