The Maharashtra Chief Electoral Office clarified reports on the inspection of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Mumbai’s Chandivali Assembly constituency. Former Congress minister Naseem Khan claimed that the Bombay High Court allowed the first-ever checking and inspection of EVMs in Chandivali, where he lost the 2024 Assembly election.
The CEO’s office refuted claims that this was the initial verification in Maharashtra, stating that similar processes had been conducted for 17 candidates across the state from February to August 2025. As per judicial orders, a verification of 20 EVMs in the 168-Chandivali Assembly constituency is scheduled for April 16, 2026, using EVM Check and Verification.
Following Supreme Court directives, the Election Commission of India issued guidelines in 2024 and 2025 allowing candidates who secured second or third positions in an election to request EVM verification. This process permits verification of up to 5% of the total EVMs used in a constituency through a mock poll or diagnostic check upon formal application and payment of fees.
In relation to the 2024 Maharashtra Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, 17 candidates had applied for such verification, which was completed for their respective constituencies between February and August 2025. Naseem Khan had applied for verification in November 2024, but it was delayed due to a pending election petition before the High Court, requiring prior court permission for verification in such cases.
Upon Naseem Khan’s request, the Bombay High Court in February 2026 granted permission for the verification of EVMs used in the 2024 Assembly elections in the Chandivli constituency, as confirmed by the CEO.
