Police challenge accused activist’s bail

The MRA Marg police, on Wednesday, filed an application challenging bail granted to an activist who allegedly stole an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) from the Mumbai Collector’s office.

The MRA Marg police, on Wednesday, filed an application challenging bail granted to an activist who allegedly stole an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) from the Mumbai Collector’s office.

HT Image

A metropolitan magistrate, on August 28, had granted bail to Hari Prasad (42), a technical co-ordinater of VETA (Citizens for Verifiability, Transparency and Accountability in Elections), against a surety of Rs 25,000, after observing that no offence was disclosed.

“The police have filed an application challenging the bail,” confirmed Public Prosecutor R. V. Kini. The magistrate also observed that the police and election commission should verify the claim made by Prasad (that EVMs can be tampered with). If it was found to be baseless, then necessary action should be taken, the magistrate said.

The magistrate further had observed that even if it was assumed that the EVM was stolen, it was not done with dishonest intention. It was to prove that EVMs can be tampered with.

The EVM was allegedly stolen from the Old Customs House, and a complaint was filed by an official from the Collector’s office.

Prasad, after allegedly stealing the EVM, appeared on a television program to show how the machine can be tampered with. MRA Marg police had arrested Prasad on August 21. A case of theft and trespass was lodged against him.