A midnight raid uncovered the cards in a private residence just days before citizens of Karnataka head to the polls.
Earlier in the day, there were reports that around 20,000 fake IDs were discovered at a separate site, prompting confusion and concern.
It is just the latest in a string of election controversies for the southern state – just a few months ago, some voters were falsely declared dead, and therefore ineligible to vote.
The discovery of the voter IDs has prompted a social media stoush Source: BJP Karnataka
Polls open on May 12, and the announcement of the result is set to take place on May 15.
While Karnataka does not have a significant number of seats in the parliament's lower house, it is an important election - a win for the Indian National Congress (INC) would be their first major victory since crowning their new party leader, Rahul Gandhi, after a string of losses.
Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar called a late night press conference, to clarify the confusing situation.
INC leader Rahul Gandhi. Source: Rahul Gandhi Twitter
“These EPICS [Electors Photo Identity Card] belonged to people from the slums. There will be an independent inquiry,” he said.
“There is something very wrong and it needs to be investigated, any type of irregularities will be addressed and there would be fair and free elections.”
Voter IDs are issued by the Election Commission of India, and all eligible voters must show the card when they cast their vote.
Finger pointing
Confusion over who owned the apartment where the cards were found continues, but that has not stopped accusations flying between the major parties.
Ministers from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took to social media to denounce what they call a “conspiracy” concocted by opposing Indian National Congress (INC).
"Democracy is being attacked, I am shocked at the incident," Sadananda Gowda, Minister of Statistics, tweeted.
The INC, which is the main opposition party, has retaliated furiously, and lambasted the government for enacting a fake raid of the apartment, which they claim belongs to a member of the BJP – and planting fake evidence to incriminate the opposition.
Amid the belligerence, there have been calls to withhold polling in the Rajarajeshwari Nagara constituency until the investigation is complete.
The general election is due to be held in April next year, but there is speculation Prime Minister Modi is considering bringing the date forward.
Mr Gandhi has used the platform of the Karnataka state election to state his readiness to be Prime Minister, depending on the outcome of the election.
There is speculation Prime Minister Narendra Modi may call an early election Source: Twitter/Narendra Modi
"I am pretty convinced that Modi is not going to be the PM. I can see it in his face. He knows it," he told crowds at a rally on Tuesday.
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