Bengaluru: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was ‘aware’ of the sting operation carried out by ‘kingpin’ Rakesh Shetty, owner of a private TV channel, when the former was still in office, alleged Union Minister H D Kuma…

Bengaluru: Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was ‘aware’ of the sting operation carried out by ‘kingpin’ Rakesh Shetty, owner of a private TV channel, when the former was still in office, alleged Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Thursday. The Union Minister further alleged that Shetty had close ties to CM D K Shivakumar, and reiterated his demand for a probe supervised by a sitting judge of the high court. “For how long was Siddaramaiah being blackmailed? Did Siddaramaiah receive no inputs from intelligence about Shetty’s activities? Why did he stay in touch with Shetty despite being aware of his background? Also, why was Shetty given police security,” asked Kumaraswamy during a press conference in Bengaluru. Sting operation row: Priyank Kharge rules out CBI probeStrongly objecting to the police detaining two of his party workers in connection with the sting operation case, the JD(S) leader alleged that the state government was trying to ‘frame’ him in the case and dared Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge to interrogate him directly rather than targeting JD(S) workers. “Mohan Gowda, who works in JD(S) IT wing was picked up by police in the early morning on Wednesday and kept confined in a godown till 8pm. Another worker was also served notice by the cybercrime police station. The police should have first arrested the kingpin (Shetty) and confiscated his mobile phone and electronic devices. Priyank should know that Home Department is not his father’s estate,” fumed Kumaraswamy who rushed to the Police Commissioner’s office demanding the arrest of the main accused.H D Kumaraswamy says he won’t be intimidated over JD(S) workers’ arrests in honey-trap rowKumaraswamy, while denying his involvement in the leak of the video, contended that Shivakumar had raked up the issue to divert people’s attention from the NICE controversy. “Shivakumar carried the sting operation file to the state Cabinet even as I was addressing a press meet on NICE, exposing his involvement and the illegalities. In fact, this sting operation and extortion racket have been going on for the past four-five years with Shivakumar’s backing,” claimed the Union Minister. Alleging that police had arrested a close aide of Rakesh Shetty, a rowdysheeter from Bagepalli yesterday to frame him, Kumaraswamy said, “There are photos of this man with AICC Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala too. He is Shetty’s assistant. Police should probe all this. Shivakumar could be trying to frame me in a false case. But I am not Revanna,” said Kumaraswamy. Siddaramaiah’s rivals turn unlikely allies in ‘sting ops’ warPointing to statements made by BJP MLA and former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, who resigned from the Cabinet following the leak of a sleaze video, Kumaraswamy said, “In May 2024, Ramesh had warned of videos, similar to those featuring former MP Prajwal Revanna, implicating then CM Siddaramaiah and G Parameshwara may be released. Ramesh had demanded action against Shivakumar.” “You (Siddaramaiah) should have taken the matter seriously then. As per Siddaramaiah’s own petition, the sting video shows nobody’s face, but the voices are clear. It is of Rakesh Shetty and Krupa Alva, a Congress worker, who was appointed Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women during Siddaramaiah’s first term as CM. I supported Siddaramaiah because I don’t want him to be made a scapegoat. Congress leaders should answer with their conscience,” said Kumaraswamy.

Source: Deccan Herald