Congress points finger at HDK over ‘sting’ operation

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson M. Lakshman on Monday alleged that JD(S) leader and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy was involved in the alleged sting operation linked to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and a purported sexual abuse video.

Addressing reporters at the party office, Mr. Lakshman claimed that Mr. Kumaraswamy was close to Power TV Managing Director Rakesh Shetty and that two or three people were involved in the ‘sting’ operation. He further alleged that Ritesh Pandey, who was arrested by the police, had told investigators that Mr. Kumaraswamy was present when the video was uploaded.

Mr. Lakshman said the State government was investigating the case and that no Congress leader would be spared if found to be involved. The party had already expelled Kripa Alva over her alleged role in the ‘sting’ operation, he added.

Accusing Mr. Kumaraswamy of levelling baseless allegations against Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in an attempt to position himself for the Chief Minister’s post after the 2028 Assembly elections, Mr. Lakshman questioned why the BJP, the JD(S)’s alliance partner, had remained silent on the ‘sting’ operation.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kumaraswamy denied allegations that a mobile phone used to upload the ‘sting’ operation video targeting Mr. Siddaramaiah had been delivered to his official residence in New Delhi. He accused the State government of attempting to cover up the case.

The controversy centres on footage allegedly recorded in 2023 relating to an incident said to have occurred in 2011. The video surfaced online in September and was subsequently circulated on social media and broadcast by television channels.