H.D. Kumaraswamy Denies Links to Siddaramaiah Sting Operation

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy has condemned the Karnataka government and Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh following allegations that his Delhi residence was linked to a sting operation involving former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Commissioner Singh stated that evidence, including call detail records, suggests a mobile phone was exchanged at the residence and that an accused individual, Ritesh Pandey, stayed there.

Kumaraswamy dismissed these claims as misleading and questioned the professional conduct and timing of the police announcements. He disputed the circumstances of the arrests, asserting that one suspect, Nitesh Kumar, was arrested in Ghaziabad rather than at his home. The Union Minister further accused Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge of delaying the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the operation despite High Court directions.

The conflict expanded as Kumaraswamy demanded investigations into Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and D.K. Suresh regarding a separate video controversy involving Prajwal Revanna. In response, Priyank Kharge alleged that Kumaraswamy was using central agencies to target Congress leaders. Kumaraswamy denied seeking assistance from Delhi, stating he has the capacity to face the state government independently.