The Central Crime Branch (CCB) Cyber Crime Police in Bengaluru have registered an FIR and detained two persons in connection with a complaint filed by former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee member Siddaramaiah, who alleged that fake and malicious videos targeting him were being circulated on social media to damage his reputation, police confirmed on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. The arrests come amid a widening sting operation controversy that has roiled Karnataka politics.

Background to the Row

The sting operation row has sent significant ripples through Karnataka's political landscape. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has hinted at the possibility of the state's Chief Minister targeting Siddaramaiah due to political rivalry, adding a charged dimension to what is already a contentious dispute. Siddaramaiah maintains he has no connection to the sting operation video and describes the circulation of content linking his name to it as a deliberate political conspiracy.

Acting on the directions of Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, the CCB Cyber Crime Police intensified the investigation and detained the two suspects for questioning at an undisclosed location. Investigators have been monitoring social media platforms and tracing the IP addresses of key accounts that circulated the videos, in an effort to identify the owners of the devices used.

Siddaramaiah's Complaint and Court Plea

Siddaramaiah personally submitted a complaint to the police commissioner, alleging that false information was being spread as part of a coordinated effort to tarnish his image. He reportedly provided details of specific social media accounts allegedly involved in disseminating the misleading content.

On Tuesday, Siddaramaiah also approached a Bengaluru civil and sessions court, seeking an order restraining newspapers, television channels, and social media platforms from publishing or broadcasting the sting operation video that allegedly links his name to the controversy. He described the move as a precautionary measure, stating he had “no other reason to fear.”

“My conscience knows that I am completely innocent in this matter,” he said, expressing confidence that the people of Karnataka—familiar with his five-decade-long political career—would ultimately recognise the truth.

On Media Freedom and the Injunction

Siddaramaiah described himself as a firm supporter of freedom of expression, stating he had never obstructed media freedom during his political career. He regretted, however, being compelled to seek a court injunction, alleging that certain media organisations were misusing that freedom. He noted that in the era of modern technology, it had become easy to “portray falsehoods as the truth.”

Investigation Status and What Comes Next

The CCB Cyber Crime Police are currently questioning the two detained suspects to establish the origin of the videos and identify who orchestrated the alleged campaign. Police have not yet disclosed the identities of those detained. The investigation is expected to widen as IP-tracing efforts yield further leads. The outcome of both the court plea and the police probe will be closely watched, given the political stakes for all parties involved in Karnataka.