Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday, 2 November 2026, publicly accused Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh of selectively disclosing investigation details to mislead the public in the sting operation case linked to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Kumaraswamy made the allegations at a press conference at the Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)] headquarters, JP Bhavan, in Bengaluru.

The Mobile Phone Allegation

The row erupted after Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh held a press conference on Sunday — a public holiday — and disclosed that investigators had found evidence suggesting a mobile phone was exchanged at Kumaraswamy's residence in connection with the alleged sting operation. Singh said Call Detail Records (CDR) placed a person currently being questioned by the special wing Central Crime Branch (CCB) near Kumaraswamy's Delhi residence.

Kumaraswamy challenged the timing and the manner of that disclosure. 'Why was the Police Commissioner in such a hurry to address a press conference yesterday, even though it was a holiday? He leaked several developments to the media, particularly referring to my residence in Delhi,' he said.

Counter-Allegations Against CM Shivakumar

Kumaraswamy then pivoted to a counter-offensive, alleging that the same investigative standards were not being applied to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and his brother D.K. Suresh. He alleged that a person named Karthik — identified as the second accused in a case registered over allegations against Prajwal Revanna and a former driver — had created videos in coordination with Shivakumar and Suresh that were circulated globally.

Kumaraswamy questioned where Karthik was on 5 and 6 August 2023 and whether the accused had been at Shivakumar's residence during that period. 'Why have the officers not taken action? Why have they left Shivakumar out of the investigation? If they want to refer to my name based on the CDR, they must also examine the role of others,' he alleged.

CCB Raids and the Kannada News Channel

Kumaraswamy dismissed the CCB raids on the premises of a Kannada news channel and its owner as a political manoeuvre. He alleged the raids were designed to create a public impression that action was being taken because his name had appeared in the investigation, rather than reflecting genuine law enforcement intent.

Hitting Back at Priyank Kharge

Responding to Karnataka Minister for Home and IT/BT Priyank Kharge's allegation that he was pressuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deploy central agencies against Congress leaders, Kumaraswamy was dismissive. 'It is not necessary for me to seek protection from the Prime Minister or the Home Minister. I have the capacity to face this government on my own,' he said.

He further alleged that Kharge himself bore responsibility for irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment issue, claiming the Home Minister had made an irregular and illegal decision to appoint 26 Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) during his tenure as RDPR Minister.

Political Context

The exchange marks a sharp escalation in the ongoing political confrontation between the Congress and JD(S) over the sting operation probe, with both sides trading allegations over the role of political leaders and the conduct of the investigation. The sting case, which has drawn in references to the Prajwal Revanna controversy, the Siddaramaiah tenure, and now questions about the Shivakumar administration, has become a focal point of inter-party friction in Karnataka. How the CCB handles the investigation — and whether a court-monitored inquiry is demanded — will likely shape the political narrative in the weeks ahead.