Siddaramaiah sting video probe links to Kumaraswamy's Delhi residence
Bengaluru police say a mobile phone used to upload the fabricated video was handed over at the Union Minister's official residence.
The Central Crime Branch is investigating a link between the alleged sting operation video targeting former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the official residence of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in New Delhi. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said the mobile phone used to upload the fabricated video was handed over at the residence on Kushak Road.
The investigation follows the arrest of Ritesh Pandey, a Delhi-based freelance social media influencer. Pandey allegedly told investigators that he and associate Vinod Sharma purchased the handset in Karol Bagh, Delhi, on the instructions of Prajwal Prasad, who works with Kumaraswamy's IT social media team.
Police stated that Pandey and Sharma then took the phone to the minister's residence and handed it to Prasad. Investigators are currently examining CCTV footage, financial transactions between Prasad and Pandey, and technical intelligence to verify these claims.
Prasad and Sharma are presently absconding and have not responded to police notices. Commissioner Singh said the duo has reportedly moved for anticipatory bail and noted that progress depends on their interrogation.
The Bengaluru police issued a statement on October 29 saying the video's allegations of sexual abuse appeared to be part of a fabricated and deliberately constructed narrative. The police have recovered the original device used to record the footage for forensic examination.