The Election Commission of India on Wednesday confirmed that 9,896 voter IDs seized on Tuesday from a flat at Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru were genuine. "The case is under observation....The cards were collected for a reason," Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka Sanjiv Kumar told reporters. He further said that two persons have been arrested in this case as of now. "There is a possibility of more arrests," added Kumar.

"This is a very serious matter...The case is currently being investigated," Kumar said in a press conference. A slugfest between the BJP and Congress has been ongoing since the confiscation of thousands of voter IDs from an apartment in Jalahalli area of Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly constituency, Bengaluru, four days ahead of Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders have alleged that Congress used fake voter IDs to create sham voters and rig the Karnataka elections. They also appealed to the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections in Rajarajeshwari Nagar.

Addressing a press conference, Union Human Resources Development Minister Prakash Javadekar alleged that the alleged racket was run by Congress candidate and sitting MLA Munirathna Naidu. BJP worker Rakesh acted as a whistleblower and exposed the racket, added Javadekar.  

Congress spokesman Randeep Singh Surjawala hit back, claiming that Manjula Nanjamari, the owner of the flat, and Rakesh had BJP connections. They both contested Bengaluru Municipal Corporation elections on the BJP tickets, added Surjewala. 

Late on Tuesday night, Kumar had said 9,746 voter cards had been confiscated from the flat. "In a surprise visit to a flat in Jalahalli locality, nearly 9,746 voter ID cards were found. Five laptops and one printer were also found in the flat," Kumar had said.