Published Oct 15, 2026 | 4:02 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 15, 2026 | 4:02 PM
HD Kumaraswamy stages sit-in. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy staged a sit-in outside the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner’s office on Thursday, demanding that the police question him in the investigation into an allegedly defamatory sting operation involving former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, instead of targeting JD(S) workers. Home Minister Priyank Kharge questioned why Kumaraswamy was objecting to the probe when he had repeatedly demanded one.
Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy staged a sit-in outside the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner’s office on Thursday, 15 October, demanding that the police question him directly in the investigation into an allegedly defamatory sting operation targeting former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, instead of targeting JD(S) workers.
His visit followed the detention and questioning of two people by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) cybercrime police on Wednesday.
“Whatever enquiry you want to conduct, please start with me. You can direct your officers to question me right now,” Kumaraswamy told reporters. “I demanded that the enquiry start with me because the Home Minister referred to my name in his statement.”
Kumaraswamy alleged that the police had detained a JD(S) worker on Wednesday morning and harassed him during questioning.
“Yesterday, they took one of our [social media] war room workers and questioned him from 6 in the morning. They not only questioned him but also tried to harass him through illegal means,” he alleged.
He accused the police of trying to extract statements to implicate people allegedly targeted by the Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and the Home Minister Priyank Kharge. He said he was ready to face questioning immediately rather than have party workers subjected to harassment.
“After Independence, Karnataka earned a reputation as a state with good governance in this country. But what is going on here now?” he asked.
“Even now, there is time. I advise this government to change its attitude.”
Kumaraswamy also displayed a photograph purportedly showing Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala alongside a man he identified as Bhagyapalli Prashanth. “Look at this photograph. Who is this person standing with Surjewala?” he asked, describing Prashanth as a “rowdy-sheeter”. He further claimed, “He was called in for questioning.”
On Friday, 9 October, Congress MLA Ganiga Ravikumar alleged that a Union Minister and a Karnataka BJP leader had hired a Delhi-based agency to conduct sting operations against state ministers to embarrass the Congress government. Ravikumar claimed that the agency had attempted to conduct sting operations targeting 10 Karnataka ministers.
The investigation follows a complaint by Siddaramaiah, who has denied any connection to the purported sting operation and accused “miscreants” of using the video to damage his reputation.
On Tuesday, 13 October, he said on X that efforts were being made to assassinate his character for political reasons by associating his name with a sting operation video circulating on social media.
“Certain miscreants have been using it to spread malicious propaganda against me. My conscience is clear that I am completely innocent,” he said.
“However, in this age of advanced technology, it has become easy to portray falsehoods as truth,” he said, explaining that he had approached the court as a precautionary measure. “I have nothing else to fear. I firmly believe that truth will ultimately prevail.”
Siddaramaiah also lodged a complaint with the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner seeking an impartial investigation into the video. He appealed to the media and the public not to circulate false information.
Separately, the Bengaluru City Civil and Sessions Court issued an interim order restraining media organisations and social media platforms from further publishing, circulating or hosting the purported sting operation video.
Passing the order ex parte, Judge D Pushpanjali of the XIX Additional City Civil and Sessions Court directed media organisations to disable or block access to the video posted on YouTube. The order was made subject to the plaintiff paying the requisite process fee and furnishing sufficient copies.
Siddaramaiah had moved the court on Monday, 12 October, seeking a temporary ex parte injunction against the defendants and related persons, restraining them from telecasting or publishing the video through any medium.
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Home Minister Priyank Kharge questioned why Kumaraswamy was objecting to the investigation when he himself had repeatedly demanded a probe.
“You are the ones who have been repeatedly demanding an investigation. Now, when an investigation is being conducted, what is your problem?” Kharge asked.
“A complaint has been received, and an investigation has to be conducted. The names of certain individuals have come up. Shouldn’t they be summoned for questioning? Should the investigation be conducted according to his instructions?”
Taking exception to Kumaraswamy’s allegations against the police and his choice of words, Kharge said, “I don’t have to learn anything from Mr Kumaraswamy. How does he know what is happening? Was he standing guard outside the Commissioner’s office or the investigating officer’s house or office?”
Kharge advised the Union Minister against making further personal remarks.
“We have shown enough respect to his position and his age. If I start speaking, he will have to undergo another open-heart surgery,” he said.
“Let everybody learn to be within their limits. If this is the language you know how to speak, and if this is the only language you understand, then I will also have to speak in the same language.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Keerthivas)
