NEW DELHI: Acting on a complaint from the Maharashtra chief electoral officer (CEO), the Mumbai Cyber Police on Saturday registered an FIR against foreign-based EVM basher Syed Shuja in connection with a video showing him making “false, baseless and unsubstantiated claims” that he could hack and tamper EVMs in the recent state polls by isolating their frequency.
Shuja was booked under section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and clauses 43(g) and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Shuja, who EC sources said is based in a “third country”, was last in the news for having addressed a press conference in London on Jan 21, 2019, with a handkerchief covering his face as he made similar claims that EVMs could be hacked by isolating their frequency, and that the 2014 LS polls were rigged. He had, however, provided no proof in support of his shocking claims.
There are reports that Shuja is in the US.
EC had taken serious note of Shuja’s mischievous claims at the London press event – where, interestingly, Congress’s Kapil Sibal was present – timed months ahead of the 2019 LS polls. It had then directed the Delhi Police to file an FIR against him under Section 505(1)(b) of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with acts of public mischief through circulation of content that may cause fear or alarm in the public.
Though the Delhi Police has, through the ministry of external affairs, repeatedly approached relevant authorities “in the third country” for help to investigate Shuja, there has been no forward movement on the other end. Sources in EC said while access to Shuja may be dependent on cooperation of a foreign govt, both the Delhi and Mumbai police will take all possible steps to identify and apprehend anyone within India who is in contact with individuals like Shuja or complicit in their malicious activities.
“Such actions are a serious offence, and no one who is involved will be spared,” a senior EC official told TOI.
Regarding his latest video offering to hack EVMs in the Maharashtra polls for a hefty payment by isolating their frequency, which he claimed would alter the result, the Maharashtra CEO office clarified on X on Sunday that EVM being a standalone device, “cannot be connected to any network including any WiFI or Bluetooth by any person whatsoever”. “Therefore, question of manipulating EVMs does not arise. EVMs are completely tamper-proof,” it said.
Recalling that SC has time and again reposed faith in EVMs, the post on X also mentioned the FIR registered by the Delhi Police against Shuja in 2019 on EC’s directions.
Section 318(4) of BNS – under which Shuja has been booked – states that whoever cheats and dishonestly induces a person to be deceived to make, alter or destroy anything which is signed or sealed, shall be punished with imprisonment up to seven years, with a fine.