BJP’s Chamarajanagar LS candidate claims CCTV display was switched off, strongroom opened early

CHAMARAJANAGAR: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate S Balaraju, who lost to Congress’ Sunil Bose, has alleged that that the CCTV display in the strongroom, where the EVMs were stored, had been switched off for some time. He also alleged that the strongroom was opened ahead of the scheduled time.

Speaking to media persons in Kollegal, Balaraju expressed doubts over the strongroom being opened without his presence and the CCTV display being switched off. “On May 5, I was informed by an anonymous source that the CCTV display was switched off for two days. When I visited the place, I found it to be true and complained to the returning officer after which it was set right”, he said.

Balaraju also said that he had asked for backup footage of the CCTV cameras for the duration the display was switched off. “So far, they have not provided it, which raises doubts. Also, we were told that the strongroom will be opened at 8 am on the day of counting of votes, but it was done at 7.15 am itself in my absence. I will lodge a complaint with the election officials”, he said.