Karnataka political row erupts over Siddaramaiah sting video

A political controversy has erupted in Karnataka following the release of a purported sting operation video involving former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The video, allegedly recorded in 2023, reportedly links Siddaramaiah to a honey-trap network and blackmail.

Karnataka Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi has alleged that the sting operation is a conspiracy by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) to damage Siddaramaiah’s reputation. Meanwhile, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has accused Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar of orchestrating the operation and has called for investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax department into the funding of the sting.

In response, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has accused Kumaraswamy of targeting Dalit progress and has defended the police's right to question JD(S) workers. Protests were held in Mandya by Congress workers and Dalit organizations condemning Kumaraswamy’s remarks.

Karnataka Police have launched a cybercrime investigation, requesting technical details and IP addresses from YouTube to identify the individuals responsible for uploading and circulating the video. The state government is currently determining whether the investigation will be handled by the local police, a Special Investigation Team (SIT), or the CBI.