Union minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has given Bengaluru police two days to act against people he alleges conducted a sting operation targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, warning that his party will stage another protest if an FIR is not registered.
Kumaraswamy made the demand after holding a demonstration outside the Bengaluru city police commissioner’s office on Thursday. He alleged that police had detained Janata Dal (Secular) workers linked to the party’s social media team while failing to take action against those who carried out the sting operation.
At a press conference earlier in the day, Kumaraswamy named Rakesh Shetty and Krupa Alva as people allegedly involved in the operation. He said their names appeared in documents submitted to a court by lawyers representing Siddaramaiah, and claimed those documents described how the operation was conducted. These allegations were made by Kumaraswamy and were reported by Prajavani; the supplied report does not include an independent police confirmation of them.
Kumaraswamy also released a video that he said showed police visiting the homes of his party workers. He questioned why the workers had been taken into custody and alleged that statements had been obtained from them. He challenged Home Minister G. Parameshwara to register a case against him and said he was ready to appear for questioning.
After the press conference, Kumaraswamy travelled to the city police commissioner’s office. There, he demanded action against police personnel who had allegedly detained his party workers and called for an FIR against those accused of conducting the sting operation when Siddaramaiah was chief minister.
Kumaraswamy then sat in protest on the steps outside the commissioner’s office. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh came out and spoke with him. The protest was withdrawn after Kumaraswamy issued the two-day ultimatum for action, according to the report.
The Union minister separately alleged that Rakesh Shetty had conducted the operation using a person named Bagepalli Prashanth. Kumaraswamy described Prashanth as a history-sheeter and alleged that he had extorted money from police officers and politicians. He also released photographs that he said showed Prashanth with Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala.
The immediate issue is now whether Bengaluru police will register an FIR or announce any action within the deadline set by Kumaraswamy. The report does not record a response from the police commissioner or the Home Minister to the allegations. Any criminal liability or wrongdoing will depend on police investigation and due process.
