Can EVMs be tampered with? Bombay HC orders they be checked by forensic lab

The judge has asked whether there is “any additional memory chip in EVMs that could be activated to alter the results of an election”.

The Bombay high court, in a recent order, directed the Pune district collector to send some of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in the 2014 state Assembly elections to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Hyderabad to check whether they can be tampered with.

Justice Mridula Bhatkar was hearing a plea filed by Congress candidate Abhay Chhajed, who contested the polls from Parvati constituency. He lost to BJP’s Madhuri Misal.

Chhajed filed a petition alleging he had received fewer votes than expected from booth numbers 185 and 242.

Justice Bhatkar has directed the EVMs used at the two booths to be sent to FSL before May 15.

Justice Bhatkar posed nine questions to the FSL. The judge has asked whether EVMs can be “remotely accessed” and whether there exists “any additional memory chip with other data that could be activated to alter the results of an election”.

Chhajed, in his plea, said “89 voters from booth number 185 and 242 have given an affidavit stating they voted for me”. But the leader got only 69 votes from the booth.

The HC is likely to take up the matter for further hearing on June 20.