Businessman accused in Bengaluru voter data theft case obtains media gag order

The businessman alleged that while the police case was filed against him, media reports also named his wife – suggesting her involvement in the case – which was defamatory. On April 21, the civil court granted a temporary injunction till June 21 on false reporting by over 50 media outlets that could lead to defamation.

An investigation carried out against Chilume Group by a senior IAS officer, on the directions of the Election Commission, had found that the company and its sister concerns were likely used for tax evasion and money laundering.

Audits of bank accounts of the companies “points to another key aspect of the operations of Shri Ravi Kumar K(rishnappa), his associates and directors and the numerous organisations and companies and bank accounts they floated, that the entire operation was to create multiple entities for receipt and transfer of money as well as avoidance of tax and laundering,” a report by Regional Commissioner Amlan Aditya Biswas stated.

The companies include Chilume Groups, Chilume Enterprises Pvt Ltd / (originally) DAP Hombale Pvt Ltd, Digital Sameeksha, Prajna Utility Developments & Management, and Kempegowda Groups & Services.

Krishnappa, the founder-director of Chilume group, was among ten persons arrested by the police last year after allegations of voter data theft surfaced in September 2022. The firm was accused of collecting private data of citizens, including Aadhaar numbers, caste, religion and other details illegally by impersonating as booth level officers of BBMP.

The State Election Commission had directed Biswas to probe the allegations and submit a report. A police case was also filed.

The investigation also alluded to possible links of Chilume Group with Hombale films and Raj Dharma Analytica – two firms linked to Karnataka minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan. Records with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) show that Narayan was a bank guarantor for loans obtained by the Hombale label of Vijay Kiragandur, a cousin of the minister.

The Congress party in December 2022 had alleged links between the minister and the Chilume group. However, Narayan had denied the same.