Woman in Siddaramaiah sting video denies meeting him

Police Investigation

A woman featured in a sting video targeting Karnataka politician Siddaramaiah told police investigators that she never met him. She stated that she made the recorded statements in 2023 following instructions from a group. The Central Crime Branch is probing the case after Siddaramaiah filed a complaint on October 6 alleging that individuals linked to a YouTube channel fabricated the video to blackmail him and ruin his reputation. A team led by deputy commissioner of police, crime, Raja Imam Kasim P is handling the inquiry.

Key Figures Questioned

Investigators have questioned several individuals in connection with the case, including Power TV managing director Rakesh Shetty and Kripa Alva. Alva told police she teamed up with Shetty because he wanted to expose certain people. Police also examined the role of Ritesh Pandey, a Delhi-based man arrested for allegedly uploading the clip on instructions from someone in the Janata Dal (Secular) social media team. Pandey has since received bail, while Shetty secured anticipatory bail on October 23 and appeared to record his statement.

Missing Devices

Police are still trying to find the camera and mobile phones used to record and upload the video. Officers have obtained the International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers of the handsets, but they need access to the actual devices before filing the charge sheet in court. An official warned that failing to recover these devices before filing the charge sheet could create serious problems for the legal case.

Siddaramaiah's Reaction

Siddaramaiah dismissed the video as a false and fabricated story meant to damage his name. He stated that he discussed the controversy with Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal and might meet senior party leader Rahul Gandhi during a trip to New Delhi on November 1. He also insisted that the police must conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the matter.

Context

Sting videos and covert recordings frequently emerge in Indian politics during periods of leadership rivalry and administrative tension. Police investigations into such digital clips often depend heavily on recovering the original electronic devices and identifying the digital footprint left by those who uploaded them online. Such cases typically involve complex inquiries into coordinated social media networks and media personnel.