Voter data theft: Posing as lawyers, cops trap Chilume Trust founder

BENGALURU: The founder of the Chilume Trust, Ravikumar, who had been evading arrest, was finally nabbed by the Halasuru Gate police on Monday.

During the initial investigation, it has come to light that apart from collecting voter information and securing contracts, the Returning Officer has issued ID cards to the BLOs in collusion with Chilume Trust.

Chilume Trust founder Ravikumar was finally arrested.

The police snared Ravikumar by posing as lawyers and promising to get him bail when they called him. But as soon as he got wind of it, he started to flee. But the police managed to catch up with him near Lalbagh West Gate.

Ravikumar is believed to have been doing the same sort of work right from 2008 and had secured several BBMP contracts like erecting pandals near pink booths, supplying necessary items for strong rooms, supply of food for election officials, etc., and had good ties with BBMP officials. However, the FIRs registered at Kadugodi and Halasuru Gate police stations name one K M Lokesh prominently, who has not been nabbed yet.

An identity card of the Central Election Commission was also found with Ravikumar, which, he said, he got it from a BBMP official. The police have now issues notices to all the Returning Officers in the 28 Assembly constituencies in the city and have summoned five of them every day.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (central) B Srinivas Gowda said so far, they have arrested three persons, including Ravikumar and have sought their custody from court.

Apart from this, notice has also been issued to Sumangala of Samarthana Trust who blew the whistle on the alleged voter fraud two months ago. She has been directed to present herself personally with all the relevant documents, failing which a warrant will be issued.

The police are also on the lookout for a woman who provided the Digital Sameeksha app to the booth-level officers.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that Chilume collected voter information from Bommanahalli, C V Raman Nagar, Mahalakshmi Layout, Mahadevapura, Nelamangala, Mandya and other constituencies. For political leaders who paid a fee, a roadmap was prepared for the election which included information based on religion, caste, educational qualification, unemployed, widows, aged, handicapped, voters settled abroad, etc.

Late on Sunday, the BBMP gave a report to the Central division police regarding the Chilume Trust, when it was enlisted and what permissions were given an other details.