Siddaramaiah sting case: Police investigate alleged phone handover at Kumaraswamy’s Delhi home
Bengaluru police are investigating claims that a mobile phone allegedly used in a sting operation targeting former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was delivered to an accused at Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s official residence in New Delhi.
Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said the information came from the interrogation statement of Ritesh Pandey, who was arrested in connection with the case.
According to the statement, Pandey and another accused, Vinod Sharma, purchased a mobile phone from a shop in Delhi’s Karol Bagh following instructions allegedly given by Prajwal Prasad.
The pair reportedly took the device to Kumaraswamy’s residence on Kushak Road and handed it over to Prasad, who was present inside.
The commissioner stressed that the account was based on the accused’s statement and was still being verified.
Pandey was arrested in Delhi on October 24 in a cybercrime case registered by Bengaluru police. He has since been released on bail.
Investigators have issued notices to Sharma and Prasad, but the two have reportedly not appeared for questioning and are believed to be absconding. Police said both individuals had reportedly approached the court for anticipatory bail.
The investigation has also involved the examination of CCTV footage, digital records and financial transactions allegedly linking Pandey and Prasad.
Authorities are attempting to establish how the operation was organised, whether others were involved and whose instructions the accused may have followed. The case follows an earlier police statement questioning the authenticity of a viral sting video involving Siddaramaiah.
According to Bengaluru police, the statements collected from people appearing in the recording did not support the alleged incident portrayed in the video. Officials have said the investigation will continue until the available evidence is thoroughly examined.