Sringeri poll row: Cong candidate seeks forensic probe into 'tampering' of postal ballots

Bengaluru: After losing his MLA seat following the recounting of postal ballots in the Sringeri Assembly constituency of Karnataka, Congress' T D Raje Gowda approached the Election Commission on Thursday, seeking a forensic inquiry into "vote tampering".

He claimed that certain postal ballots, particularly those cast in his favour, were tampered with after the 2023 counting.

He demanded a fair probe and strict punishment for those responsible.

D N Jeevaraj, the BJP candidate defeated in the 2023 election, has become the MLA replacing Raje Gowda, following the reverification and recount of postal ballots on Saturday, as ordered by the High Court.

The reverification and recount of postal ballots showed that votes polled for Congress candidate Raje Gowda, were reduced by 255 votes.

"When the strong room was opened for reverification and recounting some trunks were damaged, seal was broken in some cases.

We have filed an objection in this regard. When the recount happened, bundles containing valid votes cast for me had another marking on them. They were tampered with, rendering them invalid," Raje Gowda said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Election Commission officials, he said, "We have suspicions that the votes were tampered with, so there should be a fair probe and the truth should come out. We have appealed to the Election Commission officials in this regard.

They have said that they will forward the matter to the central Election Commission." The Congress leader said the guilty should be punished and strict legal action should be taken against those involved in tampering.

"I never thought that the valid votes cast for me would be tampered with to ensure that they become invalid. There was tampering. Let there be a forensic inquiry," he said.

Noting that he did not suspect the Election Commission of wrongdoing in his case, Raje Gowda said, "Some officials and some parties may be involved in this locally." "If there is a probe, the truth will come out.

A fair inquiry should happen to ensure that such things don't repeat," he said, adding that he will also fight legally." The reverification and recounting of postal ballots took place on Saturday and continued until midnight, following a Karnataka High Court order on the election petition filed by Jeevaraj, which challenged Raje Gowda’s 2023 election.

Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes.

Following the reverification and recounting of the postal ballots on Saturday, the Returning Officer Gaurav Kumar Shetty said, “During the 2023 vote counting, Jeevaraj had received 692 votes, while Raje Gowda had received 569 votes.

Now, after reverification and recounting, Jeevaraj has 690 valid votes, which is two votes less than earlier, while Raje Gowda has 314 votes, a difference of 255 votes.” Jeevaraj was subsequently declared elected as MLA by the returning officer late on Sunday, and Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader on Wednesday administered the oath to him.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday stayed the FIR registered against Jeevaraj until May 7.

Sudheer Kumar Murolli, who served as Raje Gowda’s counting agent during the 2023 assembly polls, lodged a complaint at the Chikkamagaluru Town police station, alleging that 255 ballot papers cast in favour of the Congress candidate had been tampered with.

Following this, an FIR was registered.