Pawan Khera posted a scathing message on X this week, demanding that the Centre and the Election Commission explain who runs ECINET’s backend and whether the system is shielded from unauthorised access or foreign tampering. He called the platform’s data architecture a potential gateway for the so‑called “Epstein gang” and named NxtGen, the Bengaluru‑based firm that built ECINET’s data centres, software and AI stack, as the key player. Khera also pointed to Vinod Khosla, whose name appears in Epstein‑linked documents, as a possible indirect influence.
ECINET, launched in January 2026, was billed as a single portal that merges more than 40 existing mobile and web applications used by voters, election officials and other stakeholders. The platform covers everything from voter registration and ID complaints to polling‑trend analytics, aiming to streamline access to election services. In May 2026, the Election Commission reported that ECINET had repelled more than 68 lakh malicious attacks on counting day, claiming the cyber‑security framework was robust.
NxtGen Datacenter and Cloud Technologies, the company that houses ECINET’s data infrastructure, entered a $27‑million contract with Akash Systems in December 2024. Akash, backed by Khosla, supplied diamond‑cooled AI servers to NxtGen’s data centres—a deal that underscores the close business ties between the firm and the venture capitalist tied to Epstein’s records.
The Election Commission has yet to issue a formal response to Khera’s allegations. Its earlier statements highlighted a layered security approach, but no independent audit has been commissioned. The lack of transparency has intensified calls from opposition parties for a comprehensive review of ECINET’s supply chain.
With the national debate heating up, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology is expected to launch an inquiry into the claims. The outcome will determine whether ECINET’s backend remains under Indian control and how future electoral data will be safeguarded against external interference.