Bengaluru police have launched an investigation into large-scale electoral fraud allegations in the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency after a city resident filed a detailed complaint claiming that numerous fake voters were illegally inserted into the electoral rolls ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The case, now formally registered as a First Information Report (FIR) at a city police station, brings back into the spotlight concerns that had surfaced months ago regarding suspected irregularities in this crucial segment of the Bengaluru Central Parliamentary Constituency.
The Complaint and Allegations of Conspiracy
The complainant, Y Vinoda (39), a resident of Nallurhalli, alleged a massive conspiracy involving:
- Unidentified government officials
- Political operatives
- Private individuals
Vinoda claimed that these groups manipulated the electoral rolls by fraudulently adding fake names during the run-up to the 2024 general election. She asserted that the presence of these bogus entries was so substantial that it may have “subverted the public mandate” and influenced the outcome in the Bengaluru Central Parliamentary Constituency, calling it a serious breach of democratic integrity.
In her complaint, Vinoda strongly argued that such large-scale tampering could not have occurred without the “direct involvement of certain officials and individuals linked to the political party that ‘benefited’ from the irregularities.” She has demanded a thorough and impartial probe into the suspected forgery and falsification of the voter rolls and legal action against everyone involved. Police have confirmed the FIR registration and the initiation of an investigation.
Revival of Earlier Political Conflict
The filing of this FIR comes months after the controversy first erupted in August. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had publicly raised the alarm, alleging “serious voter manipulation” in Mahadevapura. Gandhi cited issues such as:
- Bulk entries using Form 6.
- Duplicate registrations across multiple states.
- Records showing up to 68 voters registered under the address of a single beer bar.
The constituency is part of the Bengaluru Central Parliamentary seat, which was won by BJP MP P.C. Mohan in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by a margin of 32,707 votes. Mohan had vehemently dismissed Gandhi’s claims at the time, calling them an “insult to the people of Bengaluru” and arguing that the victory was a reflection of the rejection of Congress-style politics.
With the police now officially investigating the matter, the focus returns to Mahadevapura’s electoral rolls, and authorities are expected to determine if the current complaint links to the serious allegations raised earlier this year.