The results of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections were announced on November 23. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance achieved a historic victory, securing 235 out of 288 seats, with the BJP winning 135 seats alone. Following the results, various claims have surfaced on social media alleging that the victory involved dubious methods and EVM tampering. Meanwhile, a video is circulating showing a man claiming over a video call that he can hack EVMs. It is being alleged with this video that a deal was made on a per-seat basis in Maharashtra and that journalists conducted a sting operation exposing an EVM hacker.
IP Singh wrote, “How much truth there is in his serious talks on YouTube is a big matter of investigation. Considering the seriousness of this matter, the Hon’ble Supreme Court, CBI, ED should conduct a high level investigation so that the truth can be revealed.”
यूट्यूब पर इनकी गम्भीर बातों की कितनी सत्यता है यह जांच का बड़ा विषय है।
— I.P. Singh (@IPSinghSp) November 30, 2024
माननीय सुप्रीम कोर्ट, CBI, ED इसकी गम्भीरता को देखते हुए उच्च स्तरीय जांच करें जिससे दूध का दूध और पानी का पानी साफ हो सके।
भारत सरकार का गृह मंत्रालय इसकी जांच परख करके देश के सामने अपनी स्पष्ट करे।… https://t.co/wGFQeh1b9i
Hansraj Meena wrote, “A new and shocking evidence has come to light regarding EVM hacking – live conversation of EVM hackers! Now what will those who repeatedly said that EVM cannot be hacked say? This incident raises serious questions on the truth of democracy, and raises concerns about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process.”
ईवीएम हैकिंग को लेकर एक नया और चौंकाने वाला सबूत सामने आया है – ईवीएम हैकर्स की लाईव बातचीत! अब क्या कहेंगे वो जो बार-बार कहते थे कि ईवीएम हैक नहीं हो सकती? यह घटनाक्रम लोकतंत्र की सच्चाई पर गंभीर सवाल खड़ा करता है, और चुनावी प्रक्रिया की पारदर्शिता और निष्पक्षता पर चिंता का विषय… pic.twitter.com/ZaAe1Dkrfv
— Hansraj Meena (@HansrajMeena) November 28, 2024
Shaikh Javed alleged, “Was EVM hacked in Maharashtra? Deal fixed at Rs 53 crore per seat? Maharashtra: A sting operation of hacking EVM has come to light in which the hacker made a big claim!”
महाराष्ट्र में हैक हुई EVM ? 53 करोड़ प्रति सीट तय हुई डील.. ?
— Shaikh Javed (@ShaikhSahab__) November 29, 2024
Maharashtra : EVM हैक करने का एक स्टिंग ऑपरेशन सामने आया है जिसमे हैक्कर ने किया बड़ा दावा…!
देखिये प्रज्ञा मिश्रा जी की रिपोर्ट । pic.twitter.com/Xm8zim4vQY
Murti Nain claimed, “A sting operation of EVM hacking has come to light in which the hacker is being given the contract to give more than 70 seats in the Maharashtra elections. The hacker is saying that he has access to 288 seats, a deal has been done for 63 seats. The rate for each seat has been fixed at Rs 52 to 53 crores. It is being said that this sting operation has been done by Aaj Tak channel Mumbai Tak.”
📢 BIG BREAKING 🔥🔥#EVM हैक करने का एक स्टिंग ऑपरेशन आया सामने
— 𝙈𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙞 𝙉𝙖𝙞𝙣 (@Murti_Nain) November 29, 2024
जिसमें हैकर को #महाराष्ट्र_चुनाव में 70 से ज़्यादा सीटें देने की सुपारी दी जा रही है।
हैकर कह रहा है कि उसके पास 288 सीटों का एक्सिस है, 63 सीटों पर सौदा हो जाता है
52 से 53 करोड रुपए हर सीट पर रेट तक तय हो… pic.twitter.com/h6ecmn5fA4
Mumbai Congress wrote, “Peger can be hacked. Walkie talkie can be hacked. Mobile phone can be hacked. Computer can be hacked.”
Peger हैक हो सकता है.
— Mumbai Congress (@INCMumbai) November 27, 2024
वॉकी टॉकी हैक हो सकती है.
Mobile Phone हैक हो सकता है.
Computer हैक हो सकता है.
लेकिन भारतीय चुनाव आयोग के अनुसार #EVMs हैक नही हो सकता ?#EVM इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मशीन है. इस इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मशीन पर विश्व के काफी देश भरोसा नही करते.
देखिए स्टिंग ऑपरेशन,EVM… pic.twitter.com/TvKaaNwcpG
Shambhu Patwa stated, “Live video of conversation between EVM hackers in Maharashtra! Those who say that EVMs cannot be hacked should watch this video. The hacker who hacked EVM in Maharashtra revealed the secret of BJP’s bumper victory.”
महाराष्ट्र में ईवीएम हैकर्स की बातचीत का लाईव वीडियो !
— Shambhu Patwa Dighwara wala (@djshmbhu30) November 28, 2024
जो लोग कहते हैं कि ईवीएम हैक नहीं होता वो इस विडियो को देखे।
महाराष्ट्र में ईवीएम हैक करने वाले हैकर ने बताई भाजपा की बंपर जीत का राज। pic.twitter.com/jHceQJWVR9
Also Read: Claim That Congress Candidate Received Zero Votes in Avadhan Village of Dhule District Is Misleading
Fact Check
In our fact check research, we ran keyword search and found a report published by India Today on November 15. According to the report, the person in the video claiming to hack EVMs is a self proclaimed cyber expert, Syed Shuja, who contacted a senior leader of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) before the Maharashtra elections. Syed Shuja told that he works on contract in the US Defense Department and can hack EVMs using USA technology. After this, a senior MP of MVA contacted Aaj Tak, who conducted a sting operation by posing as the MP’s personal assistant and spoke to Shuja. This part of the conversation is going viral on social media.
The report further states that this is not the first time Shuja has claimed to hack EVMs. Back in January 21, 2019, Shuja held a press conference organized by the Indian Journalists Association (IJA) in London. In the press conference, Shuja made several shocking allegations via video call. He claimed that he was employed with the Electronic Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) from 2009 to 2014 and was part of the team that developed the EVMs used in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
It was also found that in 2019, the self-proclaimed cyber expert stirred controversy and attracted media attention after his controversial press conference. The Times of India reported the event. According to the report, Shuja, while speaking in London, claimed that he worked with ECIL from 2009 to 2014 and designed EVMs. He also claimed that the 2014 general elections were rigged in favour of the BJP and that BJP leader Gopinath Munde was killed in an accident because he had knowledge about the alleged hacking. Shuja also claimed that attempts were made to hack EVMs in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh elections, but he prevented it. He said that he fled India after 2014 as he felt threatened in the country when some of his team members were killed.
On further investigation, we found another report published by India Today in 2019, which debunked Shuja’s claim of working with ECIL. The report states that after Shuja’s press conference, Sanjay Chaubey, chairman and managing director of EVM-manufacturing company Electronic Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), wrote a letter to Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain clarifying that the company’s records were examined and it was found that Syed Shuja was neither a regular employee of ECIL nor was he involved in any way in the design and development of EVMs manufactured at ECIL between 2009 and 2014.
According to Aaj Tak’s report, Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureshi said “Like everyone else, I was also curious to know about that PC, but the hacker could not prove any of his claims. Qureshi said that a whole technical team was involved in making EVMs, which also included five professors from IIT. In such a situation, saying that EVMs can be hacked is completely wrong.”
Apart from his claims of EVM hacking and having worked with ECIL, Shuja also claimed to have obtained a PhD minor in Mathematics from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad (JNTUH) and a B.Tech in Computer Science from Shadan College in Hyderabad. However, according to an Aaj Tak report, the college refuted Shuja’s claim. Dr. Atiq, Principal of Shadan College of Engineering and Technology, stated that a review of the college’s records from 1995 to 2002 revealed no student by that name who had completed a PhD in Mathematics or any other field.
Lastly, in 2019, following the press conference, the Delhi Police registered an FIR against Syed Shuja based on a complaint filed by the Election Commission of India. The FIR was filed under Section 505 of the Indian Penal Code (intent to cause fear and mischief among the public) at the Parliament Street police station.
| Claim | In a viral video, a man is explaining that he can hack EVMs. |
| Claimed by | IP Singh, Hansraj Meena and others |
| Conclusion | The claims made by Syed Shuja are false. He has previously made similar baseless allegations, which were refuted by the Election Commission of India, leading to an FIR being filed against him. |
Also Read: Old Video of Protest Against EVM is From Delhi, Not Maharashtra
