Siddaramaiah Sting Video: Phone Taken to Kumaraswamy’s Delhi Home

A mobile phone allegedly purchased on the instructions of a Janata Dal (Secular) social media operative was taken to Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s official residence in New Delhi and handed over to another aide, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said on Sunday. The claim has emerged as investigators examine the alleged recording, transfer and online circulation of a controversial video targeting former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

According to the police, the handset was purchased in Delhi’s Karol Bagh area by Ritesh Pandey and another associate, Vinod Sharma, allegedly acting on the instructions of Prajwal Prasad, a media consultant associated with Kumaraswamy’s office. The two are said to have taken the phone to the minister’s official residence on Kushak Road and handed it to Prasad.

Police are investigating whether the device was used to upload the video and are examining digital records, financial transactions and CCTV footage to verify the statements made by the accused. However, investigators have not yet independently established the claims about who arranged the phone purchase or how it was used.

Kumaraswamy has disputed reports about police activity at his Delhi residence, saying Karnataka Police did not search or inspect the property. The minister has also demanded accountability over what he described as misinformation surrounding the investigation.

What Police Say About the Phone Purchased in Delhi

Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said arrested accused Ritesh Pandey told investigators that he accompanied Vinod Sharma to a mobile phone shop in Karol Bagh, Delhi, where they purchased a handset on the instructions of Prajwal Prasad.

According to Singh, Pandey said the two subsequently travelled to Kumaraswamy’s official residence on Kushak Road and handed the phone to Prasad, who was present there.

“Ritesh disclosed in his statement that, on the instructions of Prajwal Prasad, he accompanied another associate, Vinod Sharma, to a mobile shop in Delhi’s Karol Bagh area and purchased a handset,” Singh said.

The commissioner said all three individuals were associated with the social media team operating from the minister’s office. Investigators are now attempting to establish whether the alleged sequence of events can be supported by independent evidence.

Police are examining CCTV footage from the mobile shop, financial transactions between Pandey and Prasad, and other digital records. These checks are intended to establish who arranged the purchase, who paid for the handset and whether the device was subsequently used in connection with the video’s circulation.

Ritesh Pandey Arrested and Later Granted Conditional Bail

Ritesh Pandey, a Delhi-based freelance social media content creator, was arrested on October 24 in connection with the investigation. A Bengaluru court subsequently granted him conditional bail.

Police have been examining his account of how the video was received and uploaded. Investigators said Pandey told them that he received the footage on a pen drive before transferring it to a mobile phone for uploading.

According to the police commissioner, Pandey repeatedly named Prajwal Prasad when asked who had instructed him to purchase the handset. However, Singh stressed that the claims remain under verification.

“We are currently verifying all the statements and technical facts. The veracity of these claims will be confirmed once the remaining accused are apprehended and interrogated,” Singh said.

The police are seeking to establish the roles of the individuals involved rather than relying solely on statements made during questioning. The outcome of the digital and financial examination could help investigators determine whether the alleged phone purchase and subsequent handover took place as described.

Police Issue Notices to Prajwal Prasad and Vinod Sharma

Investigators have issued notices to Prajwal Prasad and Vinod Sharma in connection with the case. Singh said neither had responded to the latest notices and that police had information suggesting they had sought anticipatory bail.

“They have not replied to our notices, and according to our information, they have moved for anticipatory bail,” Singh said.

The commissioner said questioning the two individuals would be important for establishing the sequence of events surrounding the purchase and transfer of the handset.

“Crucial progress in this investigation can only take place once both individuals are secured and interrogated.”

Police are attempting to verify Pandey’s account and determine whether the other individuals named in his statement had any role in arranging the device or circulating the footage. Until investigators complete these checks, the allegations against them remain unverified.

Police Trace the Video’s Movement From Pen Drive to YouTube

A central part of the investigation concerns how the video moved from its original source to the people responsible for uploading and circulating it online.

Investigators have identified a mobile phone allegedly associated with the video’s upload to YouTube. According to the police account, the footage was first transferred to Pandey through a pen drive and was subsequently moved to a handset before being uploaded.

Police have emphasised that the phone allegedly used to upload the video is different from the device believed to have been used to record the original footage.

The handset suspected of being used for the original recording has been recovered by investigators and sent for forensic examination. The analysis is expected to help establish the device’s role and provide technical information relevant to the video’s origins.

Separating the recording device from the uploading device is important because the two may have been handled by different individuals at different stages. Investigators are examining the chain of transfer to understand who recorded the footage, who received it and who eventually published it online.

How the Siddaramaiah Sting Video Spread Online

The controversial footage appeared on a social media account named Karnataka Honey Trap on September 27. It was subsequently circulated on YouTube and X before being carried by some Kannada television channels.

The video’s circulation prompted a police investigation into its recording and publication. Siddaramaiah filed a police complaint on October 6 over the distribution of the footage.

Investigators are examining the people and devices connected to the video’s movement across different platforms. They are also trying to establish whether the footage was edited, transferred or distributed through a coordinated process.

According to the police, Pandey told investigators that he uploaded the video on the instructions of a person associated with the JD(S) social media team. This account is among the claims being examined as part of the investigation.

The Central Crime Branch is handling the probe into the recording, transfer and online publication of the footage. Its investigation includes examining digital evidence and questioning individuals who may have information about how the video originated and reached the public.

Power TV Managing Director and Congress Leader Questioned

As part of the investigation into the video’s origins and circulation, police have questioned Power TV managing director Rakesh Shetty and Congress leader Kripa Alva.

Prajwal Prasad is also among the individuals being investigated. Police are examining the possible connections between the people involved in the video’s recording, transfer and publication.

The questioning of individuals from different backgrounds reflects the broader scope of the investigation, which is not limited to identifying the person who uploaded the footage. Investigators are also trying to establish where the recording originated and how it was circulated before appearing on social media and television.

The forensic examination of the recovered recording device and analysis of digital records are expected to form important parts of the investigation.

HD Kumaraswamy Denies Police Searched His Delhi Residence

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy has rejected reports suggesting that Karnataka Police searched or inspected his official residence in New Delhi as part of the investigation.

He said police had neither searched the property nor conducted an inspection or prepared a mahazar there. A mahazar is a formal record prepared by investigating authorities to document certain proceedings, including searches or seizures.

Kumaraswamy accused the Karnataka government of allowing misinformation to circulate and alleged that the issue was being used to divert public attention from the sting video and score political points through the media.

The minister demanded accountability if any government department, investigative agency or minister had provided false information to journalists.

“The Karnataka State Government must take full accountability for the spread of this misinformation. If any department, investigative agency, or minister has leaked such false information to the press, those responsible must be exposed and held accountable,” he said.

Kumaraswamy’s statement places his denial alongside the police commissioner’s account that the phone was allegedly taken to the minister’s residence and handed to an aide. The two claims concern different aspects of the case: police have described an alleged handover of a handset at the property, while Kumaraswamy has denied that officers searched or inspected the residence.

What Happens Next in the Siddaramaiah Video Investigation?

The investigation is continuing on several fronts. Police are verifying statements made by Pandey, examining CCTV footage from the Karol Bagh mobile shop, checking financial transactions and analysing digital records connected to the handset.

Investigators are also seeking to question Prasad and Sharma, whose alleged roles in arranging and transferring the phone are based on Pandey’s statement. Their responses and any supporting evidence could help clarify the sequence of events.

Separately, forensic examination of the device suspected of recording the original footage may help establish how the video was created. Police are also tracing its movement from the alleged original recording to the pen drive, mobile phone and online platforms.

The case has become politically sensitive because it involves a video targeting a former Karnataka chief minister and allegations concerning individuals associated with a Union minister’s office. However, the investigation has yet to establish all the claims made by the accused or determine the full chain of responsibility.

For now, police are relying on statements, digital evidence, financial records and forensic analysis to establish who arranged the phone purchase, who handled the footage and who was responsible for its publication. The findings will determine the next steps in the investigation.