Have Cases Been Filed Against Psephologist Sanjay Kumar for Misleading Voters on Maha Poll Data?
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Synopsis
In a significant development, two cases have been filed against renowned psephologist Sanjay Kumar for allegedly misleading voters regarding critical election data. This controversy raises questions about electoral integrity and public trust in electoral information. What implications will this have for future elections?
Key Takeaways
- Two cases filed against Sanjay Kumar for misleading electoral data.
- Claims involve Devlali and Ramtek assembly segments.
- Please verify electoral information from the ECI website.
- Importance of accurate data in maintaining electoral integrity.
- Potential consequences for future electoral trust.
Mumbai, Aug 20 (NationPress) Two distinct cases have been lodged against psephologist Sanjay Kumar by the district electoral officers (DEO) of Nashik and Nagpur for allegedly providing misleading information to voters regarding the Devlali and Ramtek assembly segments for the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections conducted in November 2024.
Sanjay Kumar had raised concerns regarding voting in the Maharashtra elections.
“Sanjay Kumar from CSDS has shared inaccurate details about voters of 126-Devlali AC for LS-2024 and MH LA-2024; a case has been registered against him. All citizens are urged to verify information solely from the ECI website,” stated the Nashik district electoral officer in his message on X.
Moreover, the DEO Nagpur remarked, “@ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI @CEO_Maharashtra Sanjay Kumar from CSDS, has disseminated false information regarding voters of 59-Ramtek AC for LS-2024 and MH LA-2024, leading to an FIR against him. Citizens are requested to verify details only from the ECI website.”
These legal actions have been initiated under several sections of the BNS, including Sections 175, 353(1)(b), 212, and 340(1)(2), concerning his contentious social media posts related to the Maharashtra assembly elections.
The actions taken by the Nashik and Nagpur DEOs occurred shortly after Sanjay Kumar expressed regret in a post on X, stating, “I sincerely apologize for the tweets regarding Maharashtra elections. An error occurred while comparing the data from 2024 LS and 2024 AS. Our Data team misread the information. The tweet has been deleted. I had no intention of spreading misinformation.”
Sanjay Kumar also asserted that the number of voters in the Nashik West and Hingna Assembly segments surged by 47 percent and 43 percent, respectively, between the last year’s Lok Sabha election and the Maharashtra polls earlier this year.
Additionally, he reported a significant decline of 38 percent and 36 percent in voter numbers for the Ramtek and Devlali seats, respectively.
Following Sanjay Kumar’s apology, the BJP accused CSDS of providing inaccurate data that supported Congress's claims. Conversely, the Congress party stated that they had independently verified the CSDS data before utilizing it.
Previously, the Maharashtra CEO had issued a clarification in June regarding Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of electoral fraud and manipulation in the state assembly elections held last year, indicating that the total increase in electors from the Assembly Elections 2019 to the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 was 1.39 crore, with an addition of 48.82 lakh from Lok Sabha 2024 to Assembly 2024.
“There was a net increase of 32.25 lakh electors from Assembly Elections 2019 to Lok Sabha Elections 2024 due to 1.39 crore additions and 1.07 crore deletions. The total addition from Lok Sabha Elections 2024 to Assembly Elections 2024 was 48.82 lakh, with a deletion of 8 lakh. Consequently, the net addition in electors after the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 was 40.81 lakh, with over 26 lakh of these being young voters aged between 18 to 29 years,” explained the CEO.
Regarding alarming claims made by the Leader of Opposition about the addition or deletion of voters in Electoral Rolls, the CEO clarified, “It is important to note that Indian electoral laws do not authorize any centralized addition or deletion of electors.”
Point of View
It is crucial to approach this matter with a balanced perspective. The cases against Sanjay Kumar highlight the importance of accountability in the dissemination of electoral information. Misinformation can severely impact public trust and democratic processes. The situation calls for thorough investigation and transparency, ensuring that the electorate receives accurate data.
NationPress
30/08/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the allegations against Sanjay Kumar?
Sanjay Kumar is accused of misleading voters with incorrect data regarding the Devlali and Ramtek assembly segments for the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.
Who filed the cases against him?
The cases were filed by the district electoral officers of Nashik and Nagpur.
What was Sanjay Kumar's response?
Sanjay Kumar apologized for the misleading tweets and stated that a data error occurred during analysis.
How might this impact future elections?
This situation could affect public trust in electoral data and raise concerns about misinformation in future elections.
What is the legal basis for these cases?
The cases are filed under multiple sections of the BNS, including Sections 175, 353(1)(b), 212, and 340(1)(2).
