Kumaraswamy Questions Congress Over Sting Operation Allegations
H.D. Kumaraswamy raises concerns about a sting operation linked to Siddaramaiah, alleging internal Congress rivalry and misconduct.
Bengaluru, October 23 (Daily Kiran) : H.D. Kumaraswamy, the Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, has raised serious allegations regarding a sting operation involving former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy claimed that the operation is a result of internal political rivalry within the Congress party.
He questioned the leadership of the Congress and the report submitted to them, which suggested that the Janata Dal (Secular) was exploiting the controversy for political gain. Kumaraswamy demanded to know who orchestrated the sting operation and who the female Congress leader was that allegedly assisted a Kannada media chief in filming the video.
According to Kumaraswamy, the identities of those involved have already been revealed. He challenged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on how he could report these matters to the party’s central leadership without addressing them first.
During the press conference at the JD(S) headquarters, Kumaraswamy asserted that Congress leaders were directly involved in plotting the sting operation, claiming that the current Chief Minister was also part of this network. He used a Kannada idiom to illustrate his point, stating that it was like searching for a mirror to see a wound on one’s own palm, despite everything being evident.
Kumaraswamy expressed his willingness to meet Siddaramaiah, reminding everyone that the former Chief Minister had once been a member of the JD(S), and he bore no objections to a meeting.
The Union Minister also accused influential individuals within the state government of attempting to shield a Kannada media channel’s chief from legal repercussions. He labeled this person as the mastermind behind the sting operation and claimed there were efforts to ensure his swift bail, with some police officers allegedly aiding in this endeavor.
He referenced past incidents where this media chief had received protection, including the suspicious death of a young man named Vicky, who was reportedly involved in media-related work. While Kumaraswamy stated it was unclear whether Vicky was connected to the sting operation, he suggested that he might have been exploited.
Additionally, Kumaraswamy mentioned reports indicating that individuals associated with the media chief, Shetty, were in danger. Shetty was said to have filmed videos related to the sting operation, some of which have yet to be published. He noted that a person had died under suspicious circumstances in 2024, with the case recorded as an “unnatural death,” possibly to suppress the investigation. Kumaraswamy accused police officials and the government of aiding Shetty, emphasizing that the accused was a close associate of the Chief Minister.
