Published Nov 02, 2026 | 4:45 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 02, 2026 | 5:01 PM
Union Minister of Heavy Industries HD Kumaraswamy
Synopsis: Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy has questioned the pace and impartiality of the police investigation into the sting video linked to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, demanding that the forensic report on the phone allegedly used to upload it be made public. He also questioned whether the police had investigated the circumstances in which the video was filmed.
Union Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy questioned why confusing statements linking him to the ‘sting operation’ purportedly involving former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were being made in such a hurry, even as the investigation is yet to be concluded and crucial forensic evidence is yet to be made public.
“What is the Home Ministry or the police doing with the forensic report of the phone? Are they doing pooja?” he asked, addressing the media at JD(S) headquarters in Bengaluru on Monday, 2 November.
He further urged the police to conduct an unbiased investigation, free from political pressure.
The remarks come amid a controversy over Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh’s statement on Thursday that a mobile phone allegedly used to upload the video was handed over to an associate at Kumaraswamy’s official residence in New Delhi.
Singh claimed that the viral sting video, featuring alleged sexual abuse and linked to former chief minister Siddaramaiah, was fabricated.
The police had already arrested Ritesh Pandey, a 22-year-old man from Delhi, who is now out on bail.
He allegedly procured the mobile phone used to upload the video. Filmed in 2023, the video supposedly features an incident that occurred in 2011.
Kumaraswamy questioned whether the circumstances surrounding the video had been investigated with due diligence.
“Have they (the police) investigated the man who brought the girl to film the video? Have they taken information from him about why the video was filmed nearly 12 years after the incident?” he asked.
Kumaraswamy showed reporters a video of Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s speech on the floor of the Vidhan Sabha in 2023, when the then minister, sitting on the Opposition benches, demanded that the Home Minister gather the following information in the Ramesh Jarkiholi ‘sex-for-jobs’ CD scandal: “Whether the video is true or false, whether a video editing software was used. This is part of a routine investigation,” he had said.
Hitting out at DK Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy said, “Ask your social media people to show you videos of your previous speeches. In your speech in the Vidhan Sabha, you had provided a clean chit to the police. See how you are misusing those officers now.”
“I have the capacity to face any such investigation. They cannot touch me or my public image,” he said.
Also Read: Sting operation row: Karnataka Congress expels Krupa Alva
Talking about the Call Detail Records (CDR) used to establish the location of accused Ritesh Pandey, Kumaraswamy ‘released’ call detail records that allegedly place Karthik, former driver of ex-JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, at a particular location.
Revanna was convicted on multiple counts by a Special Court in Bengaluru on 1 August 2025, in connection with the sexual assault of a domestic worker.
“Why was the key informant, Karthik, Prajwal’s driver at D K Shivakumar’s residence on 5 and 6 October, before the videos and news was circulated? Have the police questioned him?” he asked.
Kumaraswamy claimed that the Congress had used the videos involving his family to target him and the JD(S), hoping to ‘finish off’ the party, particularly after it entered into an alliance with the BJP.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
