New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (EC) issued a clarification about a false report published by few media houses that 20 lakh electronic voting machines (EVMs) had gone missing from the possession of the ECI.

Sheyphali B Sharan, the spokesperson for ECI issued an official notice addressed to the Executive Editor of TV9 Bharatvarsh channel in Noida, stating that report was false and misleading.

ECI Notice to TV9 BharatVarsh Executive Editor Rahul Choudary

TV Channel TV9 Bharatvarsh had telecast a report making the above mentioned allegations about EVMS missing. The report had quoted sources from an RTI-based public interest petition in the Bombay High Court to justify its claim.

“It is noticed that this news story has selectively quoted some information obtained by an individual through RTI application from multiple Pubic Authorities and a PIL filed in the Bombay High Court. This news story carries only partial and one-sided information, which is inaccurate and based on the specious misinterpretation of the facts in the matter, therefore creating unwarranted doubts in the minds of the general public,” the statement read. The statement also said that the report would spread lies about EVMs and create unnecessary doubts in the minds of the voters.

Upon receipt of the Notice from the ECI TV9 Bharatvarsh has deleted the report from their website and YouTube channel.

Although TV9 Bharatvarsh deleted the report, video recordings and images from the reports continue to circulate on social media. A similar report was also carried by a Telugu News House Andhra Jyothy, which has close affiliations with the Telugu Desam Party leader N Chandrababu Naidu.