Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday, 14 October demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged sting operations targeting state ministers, arguing that only an independent agency could establish the truth. Bommai made the demand at a press conference in Haveri, escalating political pressure on the ruling Congress government in Karnataka.

What Bommai Said

Bommai trained his attack directly on Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, pointing out that Shivakumar himself had publicly acknowledged during a Cabinet meeting that sting operations were being conducted against at least five ministers — including, reportedly, himself. 'If the Chief Minister says that sting operations are taking place and then remains silent without ordering an investigation, it naturally raises questions,' Bommai said. 'Were these operations intended to create confusion or to intimidate Cabinet ministers?'

He also noted that material purportedly concerning former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had been circulating on social media, and questioned why the state government had not initiated an inquiry despite the developments.

Why the BJP Wants the CBI

Bommai argued that Karnataka's intelligence apparatus is under the state government's direct control, making an in-house inquiry inadequate. He cited the Congress government's alleged reliance on Special Investigation Teams (SITs) — claiming around 25 SITs had been constituted over the past three years with several cases failing to deliver justice — as grounds to doubt the credibility of any state-led investigation. 'Considering all these circumstances, the public would feel that handing over the case to the CBI is appropriate,' he said, adding that an agency independent of state politics was necessary to ensure credibility.

The Shivakumar Statement at the Centre of the Row

The controversy traces back to Shivakumar warning ministers inside a Cabinet meeting that they were being surveilled through sting operations. Bommai questioned how the Chief Minister could possess such specific information without the state intelligence machinery being involved. He simultaneously acknowledged that Shivakumar was unlikely to have spoken without basis: 'Shivakumar is not a person who fires shots into the air without reason. He must have some information, which is why he made those statements.'

Notably, Shivakumar had reportedly signalled his willingness to share all available information with whichever agency conducted the probe, a position Bommai said made the case for ordering an investigation even stronger.

Kumaraswamy Meeting and Political Dimensions

When asked about Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's reported plan to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the sting operations issue, Bommai declined to comment on the specifics, saying the decision was entirely Kumaraswamy's. However, the reported meeting signals that the BJP and its ally Janata Dal (Secular) may seek to push the issue to the Centre, further raising the political stakes for the Karnataka government. Bommai maintained that complaints about the sting operations were being raised by members of both the ruling party and the Opposition, reinforcing his argument that an independent probe was the only credible path forward.

What Happens Next

The Karnataka government has not yet formally responded to the CBI demand as of Wednesday. With the BJP applying pressure in the legislature and through press conferences, and with the possibility of a Union Home Ministry intervention via Kumaraswamy, the Congress dispensation in Bengaluru faces growing calls to either order its own inquiry or accept a central agency investigation. The outcome will likely define the political narrative in Karnataka heading into the next legislative session.