Mumbai, April 10: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Maharashtra issued a clarification on Friday regarding reports about the inspection of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the Chandivali Assembly constituency of Mumbai.
This clarification follows claims made by former Congress minister Naseem Khan. He referenced directives from the Bombay High Court, stating that for the first time in India’s electoral history, a court had permitted the inspection of EVMs in Chandivali, where the Congress party lost in the 2024 Assembly elections.
The CEO’s office stated that reports suggesting this was the first verification of its kind in Maharashtra were factually incorrect. They explained that similar verification processes had already been completed for 17 candidates across the state between February and August 2025.
According to the office, as per judicial orders, a verification of 20 EVMs will take place on April 16, 2026, in the 168-Chandivali Assembly constituency using a ‘diagnostic check’ method.
The statement further noted that following directives from the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India issued guidelines in 2024 and 2025, allowing candidates who finished second or third in elections to request EVM verification.
Upon submitting a formal application and paying the required fee, this process permits verification of up to 5 percent of the total EVMs used in a constituency, either through a ‘mock poll’ or ‘diagnostic check.’
In relation to the 2024 Maharashtra Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, 17 candidates had applied for such verifications, which were completed in their respective constituencies between February and August 2025.
The statement also added that Naseem Khan submitted an application for verification in November 2024 after paying the necessary fee. However, verification could not be conducted immediately as a related election petition he filed was pending in the High Court, requiring prior court approval for such cases.
The CEO revealed that following his request, the Bombay High Court granted permission in February 2026 for the verification of EVMs used in the 2024 Assembly elections in the Chandivali constituency.
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My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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