Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday, 24 October 2026 directly accused Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge of conspiring to implicate him in the sting operation case linked to former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee member Siddaramaiah. Speaking to journalists after offering prayers at the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Mavinkere Betta in Holenarasipura taluk, Hassan district, Kumaraswamy alleged that the state government was deliberately redirecting the investigation toward him despite the alleged perpetrators having already acknowledged their role.

The Allegations Against the State Government

Kumaraswamy alleged that journalist Rakesh Shetty, Congress leader Krupa Alva, and their associates were widely known to have conducted the sting operation. He claimed that even Siddaramaiah and his son Yathindra had identified those allegedly involved, yet Shivakumar and Priyank Kharge were, according to him, manoeuvring to shift culpability onto the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)).

'We are not afraid of this. Our party has the strength to face it,' Kumaraswamy said. He further alleged that Shivakumar had been the first to raise the issue of sting operations in the state, after which reports surfaced about an operation targeting Siddaramaiah — suggesting, he claimed, a coordinated political effort.

Targeting of JD(S) Workers and Families

The Union Minister alleged that Home Minister Priyank Kharge had initiated searches and obtained search warrants against the families of young workers in the JD(S) war room and social media wing. He claimed that party workers were being treated as criminals while those allegedly responsible for recording the sting operation were being shielded.

Kumaraswamy also alleged that women members of JD(S) workers' families had been intimidated and harassed during these searches. He further claimed that mobile phones and laptops belonging to JD(S) workers were being seized in an apparent attempt to manufacture evidence linking the sting operation to his party.

KPSC Scam Link and Anticipatory Bail Controversy

Kumaraswamy alleged that the sting operation investigation was being used as cover to divert attention from the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam. Reacting to Priyank Kharge's statement that 80 per cent of the sting operation investigation had been completed, he retorted sarcastically that while 80 per cent of the sting case had reportedly been wrapped up, '90 per cent of the KPSC scam has already been covered up.'

He also questioned why the state government had not opposed the anticipatory bail application of a key accused in the sting case, calling it a sign of deliberate manipulation. He alleged that the person he described as the main figure behind the operation had been shown as arrested but had since secured anticipatory bail without effective resistance from the government.

Death of Kannada Channel Employee Vicky

Kumaraswamy raised fresh questions over what he described as the suspicious death of Vicky, an employee of a Kannada news channel. He alleged that only an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) had been filed, that no proper investigation had been conducted, and that a post-mortem examination had allegedly not been carried out despite the death being classified as unnatural.

He said he had received information that a person who had promised ₹10 lakh in compensation to the deceased employee's family had paid only ₹2 lakh, and added that he was gathering further details. Kumaraswamy demanded accountability and questioned why the case had been suppressed.

Warning and Next Steps

'I have the strength to fight this conspiracy. We will not let this go easily. We will intensify our agitation if they continue trying to cover up the matter,' Kumaraswamy warned. He alleged that Shivakumar and Priyank Kharge were planning to close the sting case without a conclusive investigation, possibly by merging it with another inquiry.

Former minister H.D. Revanna and Legislative Council member S.L. Bhojegowda were present during the interaction. With Karnataka's political temperature rising ahead of upcoming legislative sessions, the JD(S)-BJP bloc's escalation suggests the sting operation row is far from over.