A criminal complaint alleging the fabrication and circulation of fake WhatsApp messages has been lodged in Bengaluru on 9 November 2026, escalating a political controversy ignited by Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's bribery allegations against officials of Hassan district in Karnataka. The complainant, Shashikiran, personal assistant to Hassan Deputy Commissioner K.S. Lathakumari, alleged that fabricated chats were created and spread using his mobile number, damaging his reputation and disrupting district administration.

The Criminal Complaint

Police have registered a case against the alleged perpetrators under Sections 336(4) and 335 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on Shashikiran's complaint. He alleged that the circulation of the purported chats had tarnished his personal reputation and hampered the smooth functioning of the district administration. The complaint also named Hassan Deputy Commissioner K.S. Lathakumari, the district in-charge minister, the Arasikere Tahsildar, and staff members of the DC, AC, and ADC offices as individuals referenced in the fabricated messages.

What Kumaraswamy Alleged

The controversy erupted after Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy held a press conference on 8 November and released a 15-page set of screenshots of purported WhatsApp chats — documents he claimed an unidentified official had brought to him. The chats allegedly contained discussions about a demand for ₹60 lakh in bribes for permission to operate three crushers. Of that amount, ₹50 lakh was allegedly earmarked for the Deputy Commissioner, with the remainder purportedly to be distributed among close aides, a driver, a gunman, and other staff.

The screenshots also allegedly referred to Deputy Commissioner Lathakumari paying ₹75 lakh to District In-charge Minister Shivalinge Gowda to continue her posting in Hassan. Kumaraswamy further alleged that Hassan Assistant Commissioner Jagadish received ₹22 lakh and Tahsildar Geetha received ₹13 lakh as bribes. On Sunday, he renewed his allegations, claiming the Hassan DC's office was involved in widespread corruption related to stone quarry permissions, crusher licences, and residential layout conversions — with money allegedly collected from owners through middlemen.

DC Lathakumari's Rebuttal

Deputy Commissioner K.S. Lathakumari flatly rejected the allegations. In a post on social media platform X, she wrote: 'Only truth will triumph.' In a separate video message, she maintained that neither she nor her office had engaged in any wrongdoing. She said action would be taken if any lapse was found on the part of her personal secretary or his office.

'If there is an attempt to spread false news and carry out propaganda, I severely condemn it,' she said, urging citizens not to believe the allegations. She also confirmed that a complaint had been lodged with the Cyber Crime police for a full investigation into the matter.

Political and Administrative Context

This episode underscores the volatile intersection of Karnataka's administrative machinery and political rivalries, particularly involving the Janata Dal (Secular) — JD(S) — which Kumaraswamy leads alongside his ministerial responsibilities at the Centre. The allegations come at a time when political scrutiny of district-level administration in Karnataka has intensified, with opposition leaders regularly targeting Congress-aligned officials. Notably, the counter-complaint of fake chats introduces a fresh legal dimension: if the fabrication claim holds, it shifts the burden of proof onto whoever created the screenshots, further muddying what is already a contested political narrative.

What Happens Next

The Cyber Crime police investigation and the BNS case registered on Shashikiran's complaint are now running in parallel. Investigators will likely examine the metadata of the disputed screenshots and the mobile number records to determine authenticity. The outcome of these probes could either validate Kumaraswamy's corruption claims or expose a disinformation operation — with significant political consequences either way for both the ruling Congress in Karnataka and the JD(S)-BJP alliance at the Centre.