Kumaraswamy Accuses Shivakumar and Kharge of Framing Him in Siddaramaiah Sting Case

Kumaraswamy Accuses Shivakumar and Kharge of Framing Him in Siddaramaiah Sting Case

Kumaraswamy names chief minister and home minister in Hassan attack

Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy on October 24 accused Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge of conspiring to frame him and his Janata Dal (Secular) in the sting operation case targeting former chief minister Siddaramaiah. Speaking to reporters at Mavinakere in Holenarasipur, Hassan district, he said the state government was deliberately steering the probe toward him even though the alleged perpetrators had admitted carrying out the operation.

Named operators walk free while JD(S) workers face police heat

Kumaraswamy named journalist Rakesh Shetty, Congress leader Krupa Alva and their associates as the known authors of the sting, noting that Siddaramaiah and his son Yathindra had identified the same individuals. Yet, he said, police under Kharge were instead targeting JD(S) workers, including members of the party's social media team. He alleged one party worker was taken into custody without a case being registered, and officers visited the home of another team member, Mohan, harassing his family.

A staged arrest followed by an unopposed anticipatory bail

The JD(S) leader charged that while Siddaramaiah had demanded an inquiry, the government staged the arrest of the prime accused and then quietly let him secure anticipatory bail without opposing it in court. The sequence, he argued, showed an intent to shield those actually behind the operation rather than punish them.

Mocking the 80 per cent claim, dragging in the KPSC recruitment scam

Responding to Kharge's statement that 80 per cent of the sting investigation was complete, Kumaraswamy said sarcastically that the minister had finished 80 per cent of the sting probe and covered up 90 per cent of the Karnataka Public Service Commission recruitment scam, adding: let us see what they do with the remaining 20 per cent. He accused the government of using the sting case to divert attention from the KPSC examination irregularities.

A 2023 operation with Congress workers, and a Congress power struggle

Kumaraswamy asked why the operation had been conducted back in 2023 in association with Congress workers, and whose political interests it was meant to serve. He linked the sting to Congress infighting, alleging Shivakumar orchestrated it to oust Siddaramaiah as chief minister and tarnish his image. Siddaramaiah has said the video was fabricated to blackmail him, and his son Yathindra has said people from within the party wanted to destroy his father's legacy. A Congress-linked woman leader who aspired to a party ticket from Puttur has been named in connection with the video.

Official line: probe nearly done, government welcomes any inquiry

The state government's stated position is that the investigation is nearly complete, with Kharge putting the figure at 80 per cent. Shivakumar has said he is prepared to furnish documents for any investigation and would share records with the authorities. The Cyber Crime Division has been probing the case for about a week since Siddaramaiah's complaint, and police have also sought details from YouTube over the circulation of the video.

Injunction in force, pressure for arrests

On October 13, Bengaluru's 19th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court granted an interim injunction restraining 42 media organisations and digital platforms from publishing or circulating two videos and related material. Kumaraswamy, who staged a sit-in outside the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner's office on October 15 and later led a march to the state police chief's office, is demanding the arrest of Shetty, Alva and their associates plus a comprehensive probe. Whether the remaining 20 per cent of the investigation targets the named operators or turns toward the JD(S) will decide the next round of this fight.