Voter data theft scam: Key accused arrested

Bengaluru: The key accused in the voter data theft case, Lokesh has been arrested by the police.

Lokesh is said to be a close aide of K Ravikumar, the director of the NGO – Chilume Educational Cultural and Rural Development Institute. Chilume Institute has been under the scanner in the scam.

According to sources, Lokesh, who was apprehended on Tuesday, had played a key role in the voter data theft scam. He has been taken to the Halasur Gate police station and will be interrogated there, sources added.

Meanwhile, K Ravikumar was interrogated by the police regarding his role in the scam. DCP Srinivas Gowda himself is overseeing the investigation process, sources said.

Meanwhile, based on statements by Dharmesh and Kempegowda, who are under police custody in the case, police conducted searches at Dharmesh’s office and residence in Banashankari and seized contract documents.

A preliminary review of the files and documents seized from the accused as well as those submitted by BBMP has reportedly revealed that some Returning officers (ROs) had misused their powers. Police now suspect that the confidential voter data was knowingly stolen, sources claimed.

Concerned ROs are being called in by police for gathering information and a special team has been formed to probe on this angle, sources added.