The contentious investigation surrounding an alleged fake sting operation targeting prominent Karnataka politician and Congress Working Committee member Siddaramaiah has now reached New Delhi. Bengaluru police authorities are preparing to conduct a search at the official residence of Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy located in the national capital. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh recently convened a strategic session alongside senior police officers to deliberate on the evidentiary trail and finalise the subsequent operational steps.
Central Crime Branch Questioning and Device Seizure
This development followed the appearance of Prajwal Prasad, who is identified as an associate of Kumaraswamy's social media public relations team, before law enforcement officials. Prasad appeared on November 3 before the Central Crime Branch in Bengaluru to record his deposition in connection with the controversial video operation designed to target the former chief minister. During his interrogation, Prasad claimed complete innocence, maintaining that his awareness of the entire controversy came strictly through social media platforms. He also stated that he had no acquaintance with content creator Ritesh Kumar Pandey. Investigating officers nonetheless seized Prasad's mobile handset and dispatched it for detailed forensic examination.
Device Purchase in Karol Bagh and Transfer to Kushak Road
The Central Crime Branch had previously issued an official notice to Prajwal Prasad regarding allegations that he provided a mobile phone to Ritesh Kumar Pandey at Kumaraswamy's official bungalow in New Delhi. Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh stated that the particular mobile handset allegedly deployed to upload the sting footage was initially purchased inside Delhi and subsequently transported to Kumaraswamy's official residence on Kushak Road.
Disclosures from Ritesh Pandey, who was apprehended from New Delhi, offered further details on the logistical chain. Pandey told investigators during questioning that he, along with Vinod Sharma, bought the mobile phone from the commercial market in Karol Bagh. He claimed that this procurement occurred on the specific instructions of Prajwal Prasad, who is allegedly linked to the Union Minister's digital outreach unit. Police inquiries established that the newly bought phone was brought to Kumaraswamy's Kushak Road bungalow and handed over to Prajwal Prasad, serving as the suspected vehicle for distributing the controversial video material.
State Minister Tangadagi Mounts Political Offensive
As forensic and field inquiries widened, sharp political exchanges erupted in Karnataka. Shivaraj Tangadagi, the state's Minister for Kannada and Culture as well as Backward Classes Welfare, launched a scathing broadside against Kumaraswamy on November 4. Tangadagi publicly questioned why the Union Minister repeatedly insists that injustice is being meted out to Siddaramaiah in this episode. The state minister asked whether such public posturing and alleged publicity campaigns were actually meant to benefit the former chief minister.
Tangadagi directly alleged that the promotion and dissemination of the sting operation had been orchestrated through Kumaraswamy's own office establishment. He asked what guarantee exists that the JD(S) leader played no part in the broader episode. The state minister further accused Kumaraswamy of attempting to sow discord within the ruling Congress party by driving an artificial wedge between Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. Tangadagi stated, “Kumaraswamy uploaded and circulated the video.” He further argued that engaging in such covert political actions was inappropriate for a former head of state government.
