Prajwal Prasad, who allegedly works for the social media team of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, appeared before the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police in Bengaluru on Tuesday, 3 November for questioning in connection with a fabricated sting operation that targeted former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Prasad, who has secured interim bail from a court, presented himself before investigating officers in the morning.

The Mobile Phone Trail

At the heart of the investigation is a mobile phone that Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said was purchased in Delhi and brought to Union Minister Kumaraswamy's official residence on Kushak Road. The CCB had issued a formal notice to Prasad after a key accused in the case disclosed critical information to the police.

According to the police investigation, content creator Ritesh Kumar Pandey — arrested in New Delhi by Bengaluru City Police — disclosed that he had purchased the mobile phone in Karol Bagh along with one Vinod Sharma, allegedly on the instructions of Prasad. The device was subsequently brought to Kumaraswamy's official residence and allegedly handed over to Prasad.

What Police Are Investigating

Investigators are focused on two key aspects: the exchange of the mobile phone between Pandey and Prasad, and the financial transactions that reportedly took place after Pandey purchased the device. Police Commissioner Singh said the questioning of Prasad is expected to shed light on how the sting operation video was eventually circulated.

'Once we get information from Prajwal Prasad, we will have a clearer picture of how the video was circulated. After Ritesh Pandey purchased the mobile phone, there was a financial transaction between the two. There was also an exchange of the mobile phone. We expect to get clarity on these aspects,' Singh said.

BJP's Political Counterattack

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday accused Congress leaders of 'unnecessarily' turning the issue into a political controversy, alleging they were engineering a 'hit-wicket' situation for themselves. Vijayendra questioned the origins of the sting operation itself, asking who had conducted it and what their intentions were, and alleging those aspects had not been properly investigated by the authorities.

Vijayendra also criticised Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, saying he was 'disturbed' by the outcome of the recent Legislative Council elections and should understand public sentiment. With a by-election in Hiriyur on the horizon, Vijayendra said voters were fully aware of the developments and would deliver their verdict accordingly.

Broader Context

The case marks a significant escalation in the political friction between the ruling Congress and the Opposition in Karnataka, with allegations linking the fabricated sting to individuals operating from within a Union Minister's official premises. This comes amid an already charged atmosphere following the Legislative Council election results, and the investigation's direction — particularly any findings tying the mobile phone trail back to Kumaraswamy's residence — could intensify the political fallout considerably.