Allegations of Fake Sting Operation Bring Praswad Prasad to Bengaluru Police for Questioning
Praswad Prasad appears before Bengalurus Central Crime Branch amid allegations of a fake sting operation targeting former CM Siddaramaiah.
Bengaluru, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : Praswad Prasad, linked to the social media team of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, appeared before the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Bengaluru on Tuesday. This follows allegations regarding a purported fake sting operation aimed at former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The CCB had issued a notice to Praswad, who is accused of providing a mobile phone to content creator Ritesh Kumar Pandey at Kumaraswamy’s official residence in New Delhi. After receiving interim bail from the court, Praswad reported to the investigating officers on Tuesday morning.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner S. Kumar Singh stated that the mobile phone used to allegedly upload the sting operation video was purchased in Delhi and brought to Kumaraswamy’s residence on Kushak Road.
During the investigation, Ritesh Pandey, arrested in New Delhi, revealed that he acquired the mobile phone from Karol Bagh with Vinod Sharma. This purchase was reportedly made at the direction of Praswad, who is said to be associated with Kumaraswamy’s social media team.
The phone was subsequently delivered to Kumaraswamy’s residence, and the police are now examining the transactions between the two individuals, as well as the financial dealings that occurred after the phone’s purchase. Investigators hope that questioning Praswad will clarify the entire process surrounding the video’s dissemination.
Commissioner Singh remarked, “After gathering information from Praswad, we expect to gain a clearer understanding of how the video was circulated. There was a financial transaction after Ritesh Pandey purchased the mobile phone, and the phone was exchanged. We anticipate that the interrogation will shed light on these aspects.”
Meanwhile, B.Y. Vijayendra, the state president of the BJP, criticized Congress leaders regarding the incident. He accused them of unnecessarily politicizing the issue and claimed they were making themselves vulnerable. Vijayendra questioned the legitimacy of the sting operation, asking who orchestrated it and what its purpose was, alleging that these aspects have not received adequate attention in the investigation.
He also criticized Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, suggesting that he is troubled by the recent results of the Legislative Council elections and should be more attuned to public sentiment. Referring to the upcoming Hiryur by-election, Vijayendra asserted that voters are fully aware of the situation and will respond appropriately at the polls.
