No need for OTP to unlock EVM: Mumbai poll official refutes media report, says 'it is complete lie'

NEW DELHI: The Electronic Voting Machine has no wireless communication and does not need an OTP (One Time Password) to open the device, a poll official said in a statement on Sunday amid the EVM hacking row.
Reacting to a news report's allegations against Shiv Sena candidate Ravindra Waikar's relative Mangesh Pandilkar, Vandana Suryavanshi, returning officer of Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency said the counting of the ETPBS is done in the physical form and not electronically.
"Incidenct at Mumbai North West Constituency Counting Centre is about unauthorisedly using mobile phone of an authorised person by a candidate's aide. Criminal case has already been filed by the Returning Officer. There is no OTP (One Time Password) on mobile for unlocking EVM as it is non-programmable and it has no wireless communication capabilities. It is a complete lie being spread by a newspaper, which is being used by some leaders to create false narrative," Suryanshi said in the statement.
She further stated, "EVMs are stand alone devices without any wired or wireless connectivity with units outside EVM system. Advanced technical features and robust administrative safeguards are in place to rule out any possibility of
manipulation. Safeguards include conducting everything in the presence of candidates or their agents. Counting of ETPBS happens in physical form (paper ballots) and not electronics as being spread through false narratives."
According to her, every counting sheet at every table for ETPBS and EVM counting and postal ballot counting (including ETPBS) is signed by all counting agents after due diligence.
Earlier today, an FIR was registered against Mangesh Pandilkar for allegedly carrying a mobile phone inside a counting centre in Maharashtra's Goregaon.
Mumbai's Vanrai Police has sent a notice to Mangesh Pandilkar and Dinesh Gurav under section 41A of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
The mobile phones have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory(FSL) to recover the data and fingerprints present on the phone are also being taken, the police said.
"We are also investigating the CCTV cameras of the Nesco Center, which may help us to find out how the mobile phone reached inside the centre and also investigating whether there are more accused involved in this case or trying to find out who supplied this mobile phone," Vanrai Police said.
Notably, Ravindra Waikar won the Mumbai North-West constituency by a small margin of 48 votes. The constituency witnessed a close fight between both Shiv Sena factions - Eknath Shinde's Ravindra Waikar and Uddhav Thackeray's Amol Kirtikar.
(With inputs from agency)