Supreme Court Directs ECI to Investigate Allegations of BJP Receiving Extra Votes in EVMs During Mock Polls in Kerala

During a hearing on the EVM-VVPAT case, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to investigate allegations that extra votes were recorded in favor of the BJP during a mock poll in Kerala. Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta issued this oral direction after Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the Association for Democratic Reforms, brought a report to their attention. The report, published by Manorama Online, highlighted complaints raised by both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) regarding mock polls conducted in the Kasargod constituency. According to the report, at least four EVMs registered extra votes in favor of the BJP. The bench is currently hearing petitions seeking 100% verification of VVPAT slips, with today marking the second day of the proceedings.