Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has alleged that an industrialist who met him wearing Meta AI smart glasses may have been attempting to covertly record their conversation as part of a suspected sting operation — one he claims was also directed at Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan. Shivakumar made the allegation in an interview with a prominent Kannada television channel, saying his suspicion was aroused by the visitor's behaviour and the device he was wearing.

How the Suspicion Arose

According to Shivakumar, the industrialist had secured an appointment through government officials, ostensibly for a business discussion. However, the CM said the conversation quickly veered away from commerce and into political territory — covering booth-level management, electoral strategies, and party operations — raising his guard.

'He should have spoken to me about business, but he started discussing politics. He explained how booth-level strategies worked and spoke about what they were doing and other political matters. He went on explaining things like a political psephologist. I looked at his face and became suspicious. I then noticed his spectacles, which raised further doubts,' Shivakumar said.

He added that the industrialist had also taken him to an antechamber and opened a laptop during the meeting. Shivakumar said he believes he can read people's intentions from their faces, drawing on long years in public life: 'God has given me power. When they came to conduct a sting operation on me, nobody told me about it. In my experience, if I look at someone's face, I can figure out why they have come to meet me and what is on their mind.'

Background Check and the Pattern That Raised Flags

Following the meeting, Shivakumar said he directed officials to investigate the industrialist's background and map his meetings with other political leaders. The findings, he claimed, revealed a telling pattern: the individual had worn Meta smart glasses during his meetings with Shivakumar and Kerala CM Satheesan, but reportedly did not wear them when meeting Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a Union Minister, and an IT Minister.

'He wore the Meta glasses only when he came to V.D. Satheesan and me,' Shivakumar said, presenting this selective use as the primary basis for his suspicion that the two Congress-governed states were being targeted.

Notably, Shivakumar did not publicly name the industrialist, nor did he present evidence establishing that the glasses had actually recorded any conversation or that a sting operation had been conclusively executed.

What the CM Says Has Been Done

Shivakumar said the government has already acted, though he declined to specify what steps were taken. Asked why no action had been initiated against those allegedly involved, he pushed back firmly: 'Who said no action has been taken? You just don't know. We are not disclosing it, that's all. We have taken all precautionary measures.'

He also said he possesses documents and records relating to the episode and would reveal further details at a time of his choosing: 'I knew who had been given the task. I have obtained documents and kept records. Not now. When the time comes, I will speak about it. This is not the time to discuss the matter.'

Cabinet Warned of Wider Sting Plans

Beyond his own encounter, Shivakumar alleged that a broader plan existed to conduct sting operations against ministers in his Cabinet, potentially through people in their inner circles, telephone calls, or other means. He said he had personally cautioned his colleagues to stay vigilant.

'I knew that there was a plan to carry out sting operations against ministers around me. I knew who had been given the task. I indeed cautioned my Cabinet colleagues. As the head of the government, which is like a family, I had to tell them not to get trapped. What's wrong with that?' he said.

What Remains Unverified

The allegations, as presented in the interview, rest substantially on Shivakumar's personal account and the background-check findings he described — neither of which have been independently verified. The CM's own framing acknowledged that no public evidence has been produced to confirm recording actually took place. The identity of the industrialist, the alleged organisers of the operation, and the specifics of any action taken all remain undisclosed. The episode does, however, spotlight growing concerns about the use of consumer-grade wearable technology — such as AI-enabled smart glasses — in sensitive political settings.

Shivakumar indicated he would disclose more at an appropriate juncture, leaving the full picture open as political observers in both Karnataka and Kerala watch closely.