ECI Yet Again Rebuts Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Chori' Claims; 'I Believe In All Religions' Says CJI Gavai After Outrage; And More

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'Hydrogen Bomb': ECI Dismisses Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Vote Chori’ Allegations As “Baseless”

The Election Commission has rejected the claims made by Rahul Gandhi regarding alleged voter deletion in a press conference on Thursday (18 September), stating that no deletion can take place without providing an opportunity for the affected person to be heard.

In an official post tagged #ECIFactCheck, the poll panel said, “No deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public, as misconceived by Shri Rahul Gandhi.”

The poll body added that “certain unsuccessful attempts were made for deletion of electors in Aland Assembly Constituency” in 2023 and that an FIR was filed by the ECI itself to investigate the matter.

It also pointed out that Aland was won by BJP’s Subhadh Guttedar in 2018 and by Congress’s BR Patil in 2023.

Speaking with a PowerPoint presentation in the presence of media, Gandhi accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of shielding those behind what he described as a conspiracy to “destroy Indian democracy.”

He claimed he had “solid proof” that 6,018 applications were filed in Karnataka’s Aland constituency impersonating voters to delete names from rolls, allegedly targeting Congress supporters through software and mobile numbers from outside the state.

Gandhi said the Karnataka CID sent 18 letters over 18 months seeking data, such as IP addresses, destination ports and OTP trails, but got only partial responses, stalling the probe.

“Chronology samajhiye,” he said, presenting a timeline from 2023 FIRs to reminders in 2025.

Deity Remarks: 'I Believe In All Religions' Says CJI Gavai

Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Thursday clarified his religious beliefs in open court following social media outrage over his comments regarding a case for the restoration of Lord Vishnu idol.

Speaking after the lunch break, CJI Gavai stated he "believes in all religions" and practices "true secularism," visiting temples, dargahs, and gurdwaras. The controversy stemmed from his September 16 remarks in a petition seeking reconstruction of a seven-foot Vishnu idol at Khajuraho's Javari temple, where he told the petitioner to "ask the deity himself" and suggested prayer and meditation.

Gavai explained his comments were taken out of context, emphasizing the court couldn't intervene in ASI-protected monuments. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta criticized social media's "wrong and disproportionate reactions," while senior advocate Kapil Sibal compared social media to an "unruly horse."

Other developments

Indian Software Professional Dies in US Police Shooting

A 30-year-old software professional from Mahabubnagar district, Telangana, Mohammed Nizamuddin, died after being shot by Santa Clara Police in California, USA, on September 3, 2025, his family confirmed Thursday.

According to Nizamuddin's father Mohammed Hasnuddin, the incident occurred following a "scuffle" with his roommate over what was described as a "petty matter." Details surrounding the confrontation and subsequent police involvement remain unclear.

Hasnuddin has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar requesting assistance in repatriating his son's remains from a Santa Clara hospital.

India's Direct Tax Collections Surge 9.18 Per Cent to Rs 10.82 Lakh Crore

India's net direct tax collections reached Rs 10.82 lakh crore ($131 billion) by September 17, registering a 9.18 per cent year-on-year growth compared to Rs 9.91 lakh crore in FY25, according to Central Board of Direct Taxes data.

The significant increase was primarily driven by reduced refund outflows, which dropped 23.87 per cent to Rs 1.60 lakh crore from Rs 2.10 lakh crore last year. Gross collections rose modestly by 3.39 per cent to Rs 12.43 lakh crore.

Corporate advance tax collections showed robust growth of 6.11 per cent at Rs 3.52 lakh crore, while non-corporate advance tax declined 7.30 per cent to Rs 96,700 crore. Overall advance tax collections increased 2.90 per cent to Rs 4.48 lakh crore.

Central Govt Employees Face September 30 Deadline for Pension Scheme Switch

The Finance Ministry has set September 30 as the final deadline for Central Government employees and retirees under the National Pension System (NPS) to switch to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), according to the Department of Financial Services.

Employees remaining under NPS after this date will permanently lose eligibility to join UPS, which was notified on January 24 as an alternative retirement scheme. The ministry has urged timely application submission to ensure proper processing.

In a separate August 25 memorandum, DFS introduced a one-time facility allowing UPS adopters to revert to NPS. This one-way switch must be exercised at least one year before superannuation or three months before voluntary retirement. The option excludes cases involving disciplinary action or pending proceedings.

Employees who don't exercise the reversion option will continue under UPS by default. The initiative aims to provide retirement planning flexibility while maintaining clear timelines for decision-making.

You’re all caught up. Until next time.