Crime branch to probe if reality show results were rigged
MUMBAI: The Crime Branch may soon crack into a special software, Pager Toolkit, which could be used to rig polls during popular television shows. Sour Grapes? Rakhi Sawant alleged large-scale cheating during a recent reality dance show
Pic/Anil Bhartiya
On Saturday evening, MiD DAY informed Mumbai joint commissioner of police (crime) Rakesh Maria about the possibility of the software being used during reality TV shows.
The tip-off was that some operators were trying to rig polls during a show finale. Some cyber cafes in Mumbai were allegedly used to send SMSes, to swing votes.
Listen to me!
Rakhi Sawant had alleged large-scale cheating during a recent reality dance show. "There has been tampering of SMSes.
Apparently, cybercafs were hired by the channel to send votes in support of their favourite contestants," she said.
The impression that had gained ground in Bollywood circles was the software was sold to a contestant's brother.
Maria was certain he could crack the case but wanted the name of at least one cyber cafe that could be raided immediately. The hacker, however, developed cold feet and refused to co-operate with the police.
How it works
Inquiries by MiD DAY revealed that the software could be installed on to a personal computer with Internet access. The process, SMPP, an abbreviation for Short Message Peer-to-Peer Protocol, is used to send and receive messages from and to cell phones.
This allows faster delivery of SMS messages, and one can send up to 200 messages per second.
Alphanumeric sender addresses can be assigned. Any calling number can be used as a number identification, which will flash on your opponents PC or phone.
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