ECI cited overwhelming CCTV requests to hide election irregularities?

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Exaggerated

Checked 18 Oct 2026

The post correctly notes that the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the Election Commission of India to share videography and CCTV footage from the 2024 Haryana assembly elections. It is also true that shortly after, on December 17, 2024, the ECI asked the Law Ministry to amend election rules, citing the heavy administrative burden of handling extensive video requests. However, claims regarding a specific rule amendment on December 20, 2024, and a 2026 RTI response about footage data remain unverified.

Main source: The Wire

Some of it's right, some isn't. Reel by @vizhpuneet

The Reel says

ECI cited overwhelming CCTV requests to hide election irregularities

✅ The CCTV demands TrueECI wrote to the Law Ministry citing overwhelming demands
📢 “To hide irregularities” ExaggeratedRule amendments and CCTV claims do not prove a cover-up

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The Reel we checked

@vizhpuneet

Garima Singh highlighted that while ECI cited overwhelming demands for CCTV footage to restrict access, an RTI revealed ECI holds zero records of such requests…

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What we checked

✓

On December 17, 2024, the Election Commission of India wrote to the Law Ministry citing overwhelming demands and applications for video footage.The Wire

✓

The Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Election Commission of India to provide videography and CCTV footage for two Haryana assembly seats.The Wire

In an RTI response dated September 14, 2026, the Election Commission of India stated it holds no data on requests for CCTV footage received over five years.No reliable source found for this yet.

On December 20, 2024, the Central Government amended Rule 93(2A) of the Conduct of Elections Rules 1961 by adding the words 'As specified in these rules'.No reliable source found for this yet.

What the Reel doesn't tell you

The ECI and officials also cited voter privacy concerns and preventing the misuse of polling booth CCTV footage via AI fake narratives as key reasons for restricting access.

What each side says

Election Commission of India (ECI)The ECI stated that restricting public access to CCTV footage is intended to protect voter privacy and prevent the misuse of data for generating fake narratives using artificial intelligence. ThePrint

Central Government (Law Ministry)The Central Government amended Rule 93 on the ECI's recommendation to limit public access to certain electronic records to prevent misuse. Times of India

Short version

📢 EXAGGERATED 👉 The post correctly notes that the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the Election Commission of India to share videography and CCTV footage from the 2024 Haryana assembly elections. 👉 It is also true that shortly after, on December 17, 2024, the ECI asked the Law Ministry to amend election rules, citing the heavy administrative burden of handling extensive video requests. 🔎 Full check: send this Reel to @checkthis.chat

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