HD Kumaraswamy Delhi Residence Search Hinges on Mobile Phone Trail
Bangalore’s criminal investigation branch is moving swiftly to execute a search warrant at the official Delhi residence of HD Kumaraswamy. The operation forms a critical phase in the probe into an alleged sting operation that targeted former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The JD(S) veteran and Union Minister faces mounting scrutiny as evidence points toward a coordinated digital campaign. Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh orchestrated a strategic meeting with senior officers to coordinate the raid, emphasizing procedural accuracy and evidence preservation.
The investigation gained significant momentum after Prajwal Prasad, identified as a member of Kumaraswamy’s social media team, provided a statement to authorities. Prasad appeared before the Central Crime Branch on Monday, where he outlined his interactions and denied any direct orchestration of the sting.
In his recorded statement, Prasad claimed his knowledge of the incident was derived purely from social media circulation. He also clarified that he lacks any prior familiarity with Ritesh Kumar Pandey, a content creator currently under police custody.
To verify claims regarding digital distribution, investigators confiscated Prasad’s mobile handset and initiated a forensic audit. Authorities had previously issued a legal notice to Prasad, alleging he facilitated the handover of a mobile phone to Pandey at Kumaraswamy’s official Delhi home.
Commissioner Singh highlighted that the handset in question was bought in Delhi and subsequently transported to the minister’s residence located on Kushak Road. This trajectory of the device is central to understanding how the video was disseminated.
Interrogations with arrested suspect Ritesh Pandey revealed that he sourced the phone in Karol Bagh alongside Vinod Sharma. Pandey maintains that he followed specific directions allegedly given by Prasad to make the purchase.
Probe details indicate the phone was later delivered to the official residence and entrusted to Prasad. Investigators are currently reconstructing the timeline to connect the digital tool to the political figures involved.
The probe has sparked intense political debate, drawing sharp criticism from Karnataka Minister Shivraaj Tangadagi. On Wednesday, Tangadagi publicly challenged Kumaraswamy’s narrative regarding perceived injustice toward Siddaramaiah, questioning the timing and intent behind his statements.
Tangadagi asserted that the outreach strategy for the sting video was managed through Kumaraswamy’s official channels. He pressed for accountability, noting that the minister’s involvement in the incident cannot be entirely ruled out without a thorough examination.
Beyond the immediate investigation, Tangadagi accused Kumaraswamy of exploiting the situation to deepen internal rifts within the state government, particularly affecting the rapport between Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah.
In a pointed remark, Tangadagi highlighted Kumaraswamy’s own admission regarding the uploading and circulation of the video. He criticized such actions as highly inappropriate for a former chief minister, urging a reconsideration of political conduct in the digital age.