Bengaluru Police Detain 5 Including JD(S) Worker as Political War Escalates
The Bengaluru Police have made swift breakthroughs in the escalating controversy surrounding two viral sting operation videos targeting former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, detaining five individuals, including two minors and an active Janata Dal (Secular) worker. Cyber crime investigators tracked the distribution network by analyzing digital IP logs, taking the suspects into custody for extensive interrogation before releasing three individuals after preliminary recording of statements. The aggressive police action has triggered a fierce political brawl in Karnataka, escalating the fallout from an unverified undercover sting into an all-out confrontation over digital defamation, state-level intelligence overreach, and internal ruling-party power dynamics.
Kumaraswamy Alleges Internal Coup as Home Minister Kharge Rejects CBI Probe
The controversy erupted after Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy made explosive allegations, claiming that the covert sting was weaponized as an internal strategy to force Siddaramaiah out of power, pointing fingers directly at current Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Kumaraswamy alleged that Siddaramaiah was summoned to New Delhi under the guise of high-level cabinet expansion consultations, only to be confronted with covert recordings and dossier evidence to compel his resignation. He fiercely condemned the police detentions, accusing the state administration of terrorizing opposition party cadres and raiding the family residence of JD(S) social media worker Mohan rather than unmasking the creators of the tapes. However, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge firmly dismissed opposition demands for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, maintaining that the state police cyber unit is fully equipped to unravel the orchestrated conspiracy aimed at tarnishing Siddaramaiah's public stature.
Smear Campaign Allegations: Siddaramaiah and Son File Formal Police Complaint
Categorically rejecting the authenticity of the circulated footage, Siddaramaiah described the sting operation as an orchestrated character-assassination campaign designed to sabotage his political standing through doctored digital media. The veteran leader lodged an official complaint with the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner seeking an exhaustive criminal investigation against the originators and aggregators of the media files. Echoing these concerns, his son and Karnataka minister Yatindra Siddaramaiah labeled the footage entirely fabricated, demanding stringent penal action under the Information Technology Act against digital networks amplifying fraudulent narratives. As cyber forensics continue to trace the origin of the video uploads, the high-profile inquiry has become the latest flashpoint dominating Karnataka's political discourse.
