Siddaramaiah sting op row: Kumaraswamy questions SIT delay; Priyank Kharge alleges ED pressure | India News
NEW DELHI: The political row over an alleged sting operation in Karnataka intensified on Monday, with Union minister HD Kumaraswamy questioning the delay in constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and challenging state minister Priyank Kharge to allow the probe to proceed. Kharge, meanwhile, alleged that a Union minister was pressuring the Modi government to use central agencies against him and his Cabinet colleagues.The exchange comes amid a police investigation into case number 56/26, registered at the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police station in connection with the alleged sting operation targeting former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah.Addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy questioned why the state government had not constituted the SIT, claiming that the High Court had already issued directions for such an investigation. He also alleged that the state government had approached the Supreme Court to avoid setting up the team.“Without any prima facie case, who can take any kind of manipulation? If any prima facie case is there, definitely we are going to raise this issue. Why is he afraid? Why has it not been given to the SIT? The High Court already gave directions for the SIT, and police officers were also named. But these people went to the Supreme Court, and they have taken shelter of the Supreme Court not to actually constitute this SIT. Why have they not constituted the SIT up till now?” Kumaraswamy said.
Kumaraswamy questions police account, denies seeking central intervention
The Union minister also disputed the police account regarding the arrest of an accused in the case. Bengaluru police commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh had said on Sunday that Ritesh Pandey was arrested in New Delhi, while two other accused, Vinod Sharma and Prajwal Revanna, were absconding.Questioning the circumstances of the arrest, Kumaraswamy referred to the accused as Nitesh Kumar and claimed that he had been arrested in Ghaziabad.“Did the police officers arrest the man named Nitesh Kumar from Kumaraswamy’s residence? Now you have brought that man to court. He gave his address in Ghaziabad. On 23rd October, he was arrested from Indirapuram in Ghaziabad,” he said while addressing PC.Kumaraswamy also denied Kharge’s allegation that he was seeking action through central agencies or intervention from leaders in Delhi.“What is necessary for me in my life, or even for my family? Even when my brother’s family was facing difficulties, we never begged anyone in Delhi,” he said.“I never asked anyone to do anything of that sort. He himself alleged that this incident was carried out by members of a Congress leader’s family,” Kumaraswamy added.Accusing Congress leaders of trying to divert attention from the controversy, he called for an investigation into events dating back to 2011.“Today, they will say one thing; tomorrow, they will say something else. They want to divert attention from this issue. If we properly investigate everything dating back to 2011, ultimately…” he said.He also questioned the timing of the Bengaluru police commissioner’s press release on the investigation, which was issued on Kannada Rajyotsava.“Yesterday, despite it being a public holiday and everyone celebrating Kannada Rajyotsava, what was the urgency in calling the media and publishing the press release? Why was it done in such a hurry? I know what the present Chief Minister, the DGP and other officers discussed at the stadium after the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations. I know what they decided before going public,” he said.Kumaraswamy accused sections of the media of portraying the police statement as a setback for him.“The Bengaluru City Police Commissioner’s statement has been interpreted in many different ways in the media. You have started news as if it is a boomerang for Kumaraswamy,” he said.
Priyank Kharge alleges pressure for IT, ED action
In a post on X on Monday, Kharge alleged that a Union minister was pressuring the central government to initiate Income Tax and Enforcement Directorate action against him and other Karnataka ministers. Without naming Kumaraswamy, he claimed that the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment was being used as a political cover.“Whispers in Delhi’s corridors of power are that a union minister is desperately pressuring Modi Sarkar to weaponise the IT and ED against my Cabinet colleagues and me, using the KPSC investigation as political cover,” Kharge said.He further alleged that the minister was attempting to use the ED to pressure accused persons into implicating Congress leaders in the recruitment case.“The RSS’s newest Group D recruit is also reportedly attempting to use the ED to pressure all accused to falsely implicate Congress leaders and me in the KPSC recruitment case,” he said.“It appears the extremely hard-working hon’ble minister is not prepared to go down alone. In his desperation, he seems determined to drag his own coalition partners down with him,” Kharge added.Although Kharge did not name the Union minister, his remarks appeared to be directed at Kumaraswamy, who is a senior JD(S) leader and a partner of the BJP in the ruling coalition at the Centre, according to party sources cited by PTI.Police say phone was delivered to Kumaraswamy’s residenceOn Sunday, Bengaluru police commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said Ritesh Pandey had been arrested in New Delhi in connection with the alleged sting operation. Police said their investigation indicated that Pandey, accompanied by Vinod Sharma, had purchased a mobile phone from a market in Karol Bagh and subsequently delivered it to Prajwal Revanna at the official residence of Union minister HD Kumaraswamy.“Ritesh Pandey has disclosed that he purchased and delivered the mobile phone at the behest of Prajwal Revanna; we are currently verifying these facts,” Singh said.The commissioner said technical evidence had confirmed that the phone was purchased from the shop identified by investigators and delivered to a location within the building. He also said police had found evidence of financial dealings between Pandey and Revanna.
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“We have uncovered evidence of financial dealings between Prajwal Revanna and Ritesh Pandey. Based on this evidence, we issued notices to both Vinod Sharma and Prajwal Revanna; however, they failed to respond and are currently absconding. We are actively searching for them,” Singh said.Singh said the accused had applied for anticipatory bail, which police intended to oppose. He added that the alleged role of the individuals involved and the circumstances surrounding the delivery of the phone were still being verified.“While these statements are yet to be corroborated, the technical evidence gathered thus far confirms that the three individuals were in contact with one another. Preliminary information suggests that these actions were carried out under the instructions of Prajwal Revanna, a claim that is currently being verified,” he said.
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