Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has filed a police complaint against Election Commission of India Director General (IT) Seema Khanna, accusing her of being part of an alleged criminal conspiracy to manipulate electoral rolls and centralise control over voter databases.
The complaint was submitted at the Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi, with Moitra seeking registration of an FIR under provisions dealing with criminal conspiracy, forgery of electronic records and alleged disobedience by a public servant. The complaint also invokes Section 32 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Moitra, the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha MP, alleged that Khanna, in coordination with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, used the Election Commission's IT systems to bypass statutory authorities responsible for maintaining electoral rolls.
In her complaint, Moitra alleged: “From conduct of Ms. Khanna it appears that she colluded with Shri Gyanesh Kumar and entered into criminal conspiracy under Section 61 of BNS, 2023 with a common intention of manipulating the electoral rolls.”
Allegations over ECINET and ERONet
A central part of Moitra's complaint concerns the Election Commission's digital platforms, including ECINET and ERONet. She alleged that the systems were used to centralise control over electoral-roll data and restrict the functioning of local Electoral Registration Officers (EROs).
Moitra has referred to statutory provisions under the Representation of the People Act governing the addition, deletion and correction of names in electoral rolls, arguing that these powers rest with designated EROs.
She also cited an investigation by The Indian Express that reported objections raised by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi over aspects of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process and the management of electoral-roll databases.
According to the complaint, Joshi had raised concerns in May over what he described as the “gradual centralisation” of the electoral-roll database and sought an audit to ensure that only statutory authorities could make changes to voter records. Moitra further cited Sandhu's reported concerns in August about EROs and other officials allegedly not having complete access to ERONet.
Goa voters cited in complaint
Moitra also referred to the case of 97 voters in Goa, alleging that they were found eligible by local EROs but were ultimately left out of the final electoral roll because the centralised software did not permit the required updates.
The complaint alleges that Goa election officials sent multiple communications seeking a mechanism to restore the names, but that the issue remained unresolved before publication of the final roll.
The allegations form part of a wider political dispute over the Election Commission's ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The ECI has previously said that its digital platforms operate with data-security and audit controls and that electoral-roll decisions are taken by statutory authorities in accordance with the law.
Police yet to register FIR
Moitra said the police have not immediately registered an FIR. In a post on X, she said the Station House Officer had asked for time to examine whether a case was made out and that she would return to follow up.
“Filed a complaint to register FIR against Seema Khanna DG IT @ECISVEEP at Parliament Street PS today. SHO asked for time till 5th to see if case made out for FIR. Told him I will be back on 6th to follow up,” Moitra wrote.
She has also alleged that the evidence in the matter is largely electronic and documentary and urged the police to secure relevant files, records and electronic material from the ECI's IT department.
The complaint comes days after Moitra filed a separate police complaint against CEC Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of alleged irregularities in the handling of electoral rolls during the SIR exercise. Police had said that complaint was under verification and had not immediately registered an FIR.
The Election Commission's official directory currently lists Dr Seema Khanna as Director General (IT).
