Fact Check: Was a BJP Leader In Karnataka Caught With an Electronic Voting Machine?

The Karnataka Election results are around the corner and there is plenty of hype on who would win the polls.

Now a video has been shared widely with the claim that a car had been surrounded by an angry mob and some can be seen destroying an electronic voting machine.

"Local people created a ruckus after EVM machine was found in BJP leader's car," along with the hashtag "Karnataka Elections," said one user while sharing an image.

Gujarat Congress' Hitendra Pithadiya while sharing the video said, " locals created a ruckus after EVMs were found in a BJP leader's car."

Prashant Anand, the coordinator to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, also shared the video and wrote, " see public outrage as soon as EVM found in BJP leader's car. People have become so disturbed by Modi's lies that they have taken a stand to remove the BJP. Looking like the 2024 trailer."

OneIndia has learnt that the claim is misleading. The electronic voting machines were not recovered from a BJP leader. In fact the car belonged to an on-duty polling official.

We found a report in the Outlook from May 11. The report said that in Karnataka's Vijayapura on the day of the elections, residents of the Masabinala village allegedly stopped a poll-duty vehicle carrying electronic voting machines (EVMs), and manhandled an officer.

Speaking about the incident, the Deputy Commisioner of Vijaypura district had said, "it is false. Actually. Reserve EVMs carried in sector officer vehicle was stopped by villagers and damaged the EVMs. Case has been registered ad 24 people have been arrested."

The offie of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka had released a press note in which it was said, "Malappa Hanamantappa Yerajari, Revenue Sector Officer of Basavan Bagewadi AScreenshot 2023-05-12 at 8.56.50 AM.pngssemblyScreenshot 2023-05-12 at 8.56.35 AM.png along with other staff was carrying reserve EVMs & VVPATs from Basavana Bagewadi's strong room towards Masabinal in Car No: KA- 28/Z-2305. During this time, around 100-150 public stopped their vehicle near Venkatesh temple, Masabinal and abused them in filthy language and dragged them out of the car, assaulted them with stones with the intention to kill them, damaged their vehicle, EVMs & other polling materials."

Hence it can be concluded that the car which is seen in the viral video did not belong to a BJP leader.