Taking a strong note of an old fake news about the hacking of electronic voting machine (EVM) being circulated on some social media platforms/internet, the Election Commission has lodged an FIR under the IPC Section 500 (punishment for defamation) and Representation of the People Act 1951 Section 128 (maintenance of secrecy of voting), 134(breach of official duty in connection with elections).
“Investigation has been initiated in this matter and stern action will be taken against the miscreants who have uploaded fake news to create wrong impressions about the election process,” the EC said in a statement.
According to the EC, the news item dated 21st December, 2017 maliciously attributed that former Chief Election Commissioner T.S. Krishnamurthy had opined that a particular party won Assembly elections by hacking EVMs. This wrongful information was previously debunked by former CEC himself, soon after this matter had come to his knowledge in 2018. This news is again being circulated by some miscreants on social media.
Refuting this fake news Krishnamurthy has again issued a statement saying it has been brought to his notice that a fake news which had appeared in a Hindi newspaper quite some time back is being activated and re-circulated as if that I express doubts about the credibility of the EVM in the conduct of elections in India.
“This is utterly false and mischievous to circulate a wrong impression in the ensuing elections. I would like to reiterate that the EVMs are most credible and I have no doubt about its efficacy and reliability. EVM is indeed our nation’s pride and that there cannot be any doubt whatsoever about its credibility,” Krishnamurthy said.
The FIR was lodged by Chief Electoral Office Delhi.