A controversial video uploaded by Dr. Harish Karnick, a retired professor from IIT Kanpur, has sparked a fierce backlash, with allegations that he is spreading anti-democratic, anti-national propaganda against India’s Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The complaint, filed by former Central Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar, demands immediate action from both IIT Kanpur’s Director Dr. Manindra Agrawal and India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing Dr. Karnick of misusing his association with the premier institution to discredit the integrity of India’s election process.
The crux of the complaint revolves around a video shared by Dr Karnick, in which he allegedly disseminates false and unsubstantiated claims about the EVM technology that has been a cornerstone of India’s democratic system for decades. Mahurkar’s complaint, which calls the video a “malicious attack on the credibility of India’s electoral process,” accuses Dr. Karnick of spreading misinformation that could not only destabilise public trust in the electoral system but also become a dangerous narrative internationally.
Mahurkar argues that this video, which is still circulating on social media platforms, is particularly troubling because of its potential to mislead global audiences into believing that the Indian electoral process is corrupt. As Mahurkar points out, IIT Kanpur’s longstanding association with the development and deployment of EVMs makes Dr. Karnick’s actions even more egregious. “The lies propagated by Dr. Karnick,” Mahurkar writes in his complaint, “could sabotage India’s democracy and become gospel truths globally—solely because IIT represents India’s intellectual brand.”
The former Central Information Commissioner stresses that Dr. Karnick’s claims are not only false but also harmful, as they seek to undermine a technology that has been vetted repeatedly and upheld by the Supreme Court of India. Over the years, the EVM process has been scrutinised by multiple courts and governmental bodies, all of which have confirmed its fairness and transparency. In fact, IIT Kanpur itself played a pivotal role in the development of EVMs, making Dr. Karnick’s actions all the more troubling, as they seemingly contradict the institution’s contributions to the electoral process.
The complaint goes on to question why Dr. Karnick, if he believes in the validity of his claims, has not taken his concerns to the Supreme Court, which has upheld the integrity of the EVM system on several occasions. Mahurkar suggests that by failing to challenge the issue through legal channels, Dr. Karnick is deliberately misusing his position as a respected academic to mislead the public, which is unacceptable for someone associated with an institution like IIT Kanpur.
Beyond the academic malpractice, the complaint raises grave concerns about the potential involvement of “divisive forces” or “anti-national elements” in promoting such narratives. Mahurkar urges a comprehensive investigation into Dr. Karnick’s actions to determine whether external entities are influencing his stance against EVMs, thereby undermining India’s democratic processes. “Such misinformation has the potential to destabilise not just the electoral system but the fabric of our democracy,” Mahurkar warns.
The complaint demands swift and stringent actions against Dr. Karnick, including an official disassociation from IIT Kanpur. Mahurkar asserts that IIT Kanpur, as a premier institution with a reputation for excellence, cannot afford to allow such actions to go unchecked. The institution’s leadership, Mahurkar insists, must clarify its position on this matter and distance itself from Dr. Karnick’s damaging rhetoric, which he argues undermines both the institution’s integrity and India’s democratic fabric.
In a further plea, Mahurkar has called on the authorities to probe the potential involvement of external forces in promoting the baseless narrative against EVMs. He contends that the timing and manner in which these allegations have been spread point to a coordinated effort to discredit India’s democratic processes on both the national and international stage.
“This deliberate attempt to malign EVMs is not just an academic dispute; it is an existential threat to the credibility of India’s democracy,” Mahurkar writes in his complaint. “If such lies are allowed to take root, they will slowly erode trust in our elections, and ultimately, in the integrity of our nation.”
The complaint concludes with a call for urgent and decisive action, underscoring the grave threat posed by Dr. Karnick’s actions. Mahurkar’s message is clear: such misinformation cannot be allowed to fester. India’s democracy and its electoral system must be defended at all costs, and those who seek to harm them must be held accountable.
