No, this video does not show BJP workers ‘stealing’ EVMs in Nagpur, Maharashtra

What is the claim? 

A video of people filming a car’s interior through a window, showing two hard plastic cases resembling Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), has been widely shared on social media. The viral video claims to show Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers "stealing" EVMs in Nagpur, Maharashtra, after the recently concluded 2024 state Assembly elections.

One such post on X (archived here) shared the viral clip with the caption, “This is the video from last night. BJP workers were caught red handed while stealing EVM machines in Nagpur #ElectionResults #MaharashtraElectionResults.” The archived versions of similar posts shared on X can be viewed here, here, and here. 

The clip was also shared on Facebook with similar claims, and archives can be viewed here, here, and here.

Screenshots of viral posts circulating on social media. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts) 

The viral video was first shared on November 21, a day after polling was conducted in Maharashtra. It recently gained traction on social media following the victory of the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in the elections, which is set to form the government.

However, we found that the viral video actually shows a zonal election officer's car in Nagpur being attacked by a group of people over allegations that the officer was carrying EVMs used for polling in the elections. Additionally, Nagpur's deputy district election officer confirmed to Logically Facts that the EVMs in the car were reserve machines.

What did we find?  

A reverse image search of the screenshot from the viral clip led us to a video posted by ANI News (archived here) on its official X account on November 21, 2024. The video captures a damaged car with the same vehicle number, “MH 19 BU 6027,” as seen in the viral clip.

The screenshot shows the same vehicle number plate in the viral clip and the ANI video. (Source: X/ANI/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)  

The post caption reads, “Nagpur, Maharashtra | Car of a zonal officer was damaged as some people pelted stones at it, yesterday evening. He had a spare EVM in his car, and some people misunderstood that it was the EVM, the one that was used in polling for Maharashtra Assembly Elections, says Joint CP, Nagpur, Nisar Tamboli.” 

Screenshot of social media posts shared by ANI. (Source: X/ANI/Screenshot)

The reports published by ANI, The Times of India, and Press Trust of India elaborated that the zonal officer’s car carrying reserve EVMs was attacked in the Central Nagpur constituency by a group of people who were under the impression that the officer was carrying EVMs that were used for polling. 

In its report, ANI quoted Nagpur Joint Commissioner of Police Nisar Tamboli, who told the news agency, “When voting was over, a zonal officer went out of polling center for some work. The zonal officer had a spare EVM in his car, which the group of persons mistook for the EVM used in The group chased the officer for questioning and even pelted stones at him and his car. The officer was manhandled and the car in which the spare EVM was kept was also vandalised by the mob."

We also found video reports by ABP Live (archived here) and NDTV (archived here), which also showed visuals of a damaged car. The reports noted that the zonal officer’s car carried reserve EVMs. However, none of the reports mention that a BJP worker’s vehicle was caught "stealing" EVMs. 

Furthermore, Logically Facts spoke to Pravin Mahire, deputy district election officer of Nagpur, who confirmed that the car belonged to the zonal officer and was carrying reserve machines. He said, “Those were unused reserve machines.” Reserve EVMs are spare backup voting machines kept for emergencies and are not used for polling. The polled EVMs are transferred to a substantial room after voting and are opened on counting day.

We also spoke to two local reporters in Nagpur, who, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that there was no such incident of BJP workers carrying polled EVMs, and the car that was attacked belonged to the zonal election officer.

The verdict

The viral video shows the Nagpur zonal election officer's car, which was carrying reserve EVMs, being attacked by a group of people who falsely alleged it was transporting polled EVMs. However, the video is now being shared out of context on social media, with the misleading claim that it shows BJP workers "stealing" EVMs after the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.