Election commission writes to Delhi Police seeking FIR against alleged hacker Syed Shuja

The Election Commission of India has written to the Delhi Police, asking that a case be lodged against a London-based hacker who, during a so-called hackathon yesterday, claimed the Electronic Voting Machines used for elections in India can be tampered with.

“Through media reports, it has come to the notice of the Commission that allegedly one Mr Syed Shuja, on January 21 in London… claimed that he was part of the EVM design team and he can hack the EVM used in elections in India. The act of Mr Shuja is violative of IPC, particularly its section 505 (1) (b),” the EC said.

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In its letter to the police, the Commission today said the man has broken the laws concerning “public mischief”. “Accordingly you are requested to lodge an FIR and investigate the matter promptly,” the letter addressed to the Delhi Police read.

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“EVMs with adequate safeguards under the control of the ECI has been lauded the world over. Hon’ble Supreme Court and various Hon’ble High Courts have also endorsed the use of EVMs in the elections through various judgments,” the Commission said.