Bengaluru police probe source of alleged Siddaramaiah sting video
Special teams are tracking the origin of a video and investigating who provided it to social media creator Ritesh Pandey.
Bengaluru city police are investigating the source of an alleged sting video involving former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, according to The Hindu.
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said the investigation is examining three instances where the video surfaced, specifically in 2021, 2023, and 2026.
Special teams are working to establish the chain of custody to determine how the video changed hands and who gave it to Ritesh Pandey, a freelance social media content creator.
Pandey, who allegedly uploaded the video, was arrested in Delhi and later granted conditional bail.
A preliminary investigation found that claims the recording was made in 2023 are false. Police suspect the video was circulated on various social media platforms in September and October this year.
Investigators have seized a handset used to upload the video for technical analysis and have questioned several individuals, including Kannada news channel editor Rakesh Shetty and Congress leader Kripa Alva.
The police are also examining the circumstances of the recording to see if it was fabricated, manipulated, or deliberately staged.