On 5th November, during a press conference on the so-called “vote chori”, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi once again accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of “destroying evidence” by deleting CCTV footage from polling stations.
Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Alleges 'Vote-Chori' in Haryana Polls.
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) November 5, 2025
A lady appears 223 times in two booths with the same photo. EC has the data about how many times she votes… This is the reason why ECI destroys CCTV footage: @rahulgandhi pic.twitter.com/BShVG9Pr9t
However, the claim made by Gandhi is misleading. According to official records and RTI responses, the ECI has categorically stated that CCTV footage from polling booths is preserved for 45 days and can be released only under the directions of the Supreme Court of India. The issue of CCTV footage retention is currently pending before the Supreme Court in the writ petition filed by Jairam Ramesh against the Union of India.
In an RTI reply to India Today, the ECI refused to share details on the 45-day rule and stated that the matter was sub judice. The appellate authority upheld this decision, directing that relevant information would be released only after the Supreme Court delivers its verdict.
Therefore, Rahul Gandhi’s assertion that the ECI is deleting or destroying CCTV footage to conceal “vote chori” is factually incorrect. The ECI follows a defined legal procedure, retaining CCTV recordings for 45 days and releasing them only when ordered by the court, not to political parties or individuals showing presentations or making allegations.
