Agency, New Delhi.  After the statement of Tesla CEO Elon Musk on EVM in ECI press conference,  there has been a ruckus in India. Musk had talked about EVM being hacked, on which statements of many opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi also came out.

Rahul also hit out at the FIR lodged against Mangesh Pandilkar, a relative of Maharashtra Shiv Sena leader Ravindra Waikar, for allegedly carrying a mobile phone inside the counting centre in Goregaon, Maharashtra.

Election Commission gave clarification

After the allegations of the opposition, the Election Commission has now given clarification by holding a press conference. The Commission said that no OTP is used to unlock the EVM. Returning Officer Vandana Suryavanshi said that EVM is never hacked nor can it be connected to any device. 

Congress demands answer from Election Commission

Let us tell you that a case has been registered against the Shiv Sena leader at the Vanrai Police Station. An FIR has also been registered against Dinesh Gaurav, a polling worker who was an Encore (poll portal) operator with the Election Commission. Mumbai's Vanrai Police has sent a notice to Mangesh Pandilkar and Dinesh Gaurav under Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Congress had sought a reply from the Election Commission in the matter.

These were serious allegations

Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) candidate from Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat Ravindra Waikar had won by just 48 votes after re-counting in the Lok Sabha elections, which led to a lot of controversy.

It is alleged that Election Commission official Gaurav had the mobile phone which generates OTP during vote counting. This phone was being used by Vyakar's relative Pandilkar. Police suspect that the phone was used till after 4 pm. During this time, there was a tough competition between the two leaders. 

Forensic test of mobile phone will be done

Police said the mobile phone has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for data recovery and fingerprints on the phone are also being taken. Vanrai police said, "We are also checking the CCTV cameras of the Nesco centre, which may help us find out how the mobile phone reached inside the centre and also trying to find out if there are more accused involved in the case or who supplied this mobile phone."