Karnataka Sting Case Reaches Kumaraswamy's Door; Union Minister Says 'Can't Touch Me'

The controversy over an alleged sting operation in Karnataka reached Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy's door on Sunday, with Bengaluru Police linking a mobile phone used in the operation to his official residence in Delhi, and the JD(S) leader rejecting the allegation as an attempt to frame him.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said the phone allegedly used to record the sting targeting former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was purchased in Delhi and handed over to a person named Prajwal Prasad at Kumaraswamy's official residence in the national capital.

The handover was made on Prasad's instructions, the Commissioner said, citing the statement of Ritesh Pandey, an accused arrested in the case. Pandey, a Delhi resident, was arrested on October 24 in connection with uploading a video of the alleged sting operation on social media. He was the first person arrested in the case. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of Bengaluru Police apprehended him in Delhi and brought him to the city for questioning.

Two videos containing allegations against Siddaramaiah were uploaded on YouTube, reportedly in September.

"On the instructions of Prajwal Prasad, Vinod Sharma and Ritesh Pandey purchased a mobile phone from a shop in Karol Bagh. They later handed the phone over to Prajwal Prasad at Kumaraswamy's official residence in Delhi," Singh said. Police claimed that all three worked at Kumaraswamy's office.

Asked whether a notice had been issued to the Union Minister or whether his direct involvement had been established, Singh said the investigation was still under way and it was too early to draw any conclusions.

Kumaraswamy rejected the allegations, saying neither the state government "nor its officers can touch him". He alleged that Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge had "conspired" to implicate him, and claimed the investigation was being diverted to target the JD(S).

The Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel alleged that the two leaders were trying to shift the focus of the investigation towards him and his party. "We are not afraid of this. Our party has the strength to face it," he told reporters.

Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the investigation was progressing and that technical evidence and several significant leads had emerged. He said strict legal action would be taken against anyone found involved, irrespective of their influence or position.

Questioning the absence of certain individuals from the investigation, Kharge said some people who had worked with Kumaraswamy and his close associates had not appeared before investigators. "He should have asked them to cooperate with the investigation. Why is he not doing so?" he asked.

Accusing Kumaraswamy of what he called "dirty politics" against AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Siddaramaiah, the Home Minister said the investigation was far from over. "This is just the trailer; the movie is yet to come," he said.

The case has its roots in an earlier political row. In October, Kumaraswamy alleged that Siddaramaiah was forced to step down as chief minister after Shivakumar threatened to release videos produced through sting operations. More recently, Chief Minister Shivakumar warned his Cabinet colleagues that some people may be out to target them through sting operations, after which the Opposition demanded a probe into his claim. The Congress has also expelled leader Kripa Alva over a sting operation involving party leaders.

At this stage, the case rests on a statement made by an arrested accused and material gathered by the CCB. No court has recorded a finding on who commissioned the alleged operation, and police have said the investigation is at an early stage.