Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly conveyed dissatisfaction over the investigation into the sting operation controversy during a 45-minute private meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, according to party insiders. The disclosure, made on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, came from K.N. Rajanna, a Congress MLA and close associate of Siddaramaiah, who indicated the former Chief Minister also raised concerns about damage to both his personal image and the party's standing.

What Rajanna Said

Former Minister and Congress MLA K.N. Rajanna told reporters in Bengaluru that he had spoken to Siddaramaiah before the latter's Delhi visit but had not yet had the opportunity to debrief him after his return. Speaking on the basis of what he had gathered, Rajanna said the meeting covered the sting operation in detail.

'During his visit to Delhi, Siddaramaiah discussed in detail the developments surrounding the sting operation, the factors that could affect the party's image and the damage the controversy could cause to his personal image. He conveyed these concerns during a one-to-one discussion. This is what I have gathered,' Rajanna said.

Rajanna added that he would speak to Siddaramaiah personally to get a fuller picture. He insisted there should be no compromise on the truth emerging from the probe, regardless of the level at which the investigation was conducted. 'Whether it is a high-level or low-level investigation, the truth must come out. There is no question of compromising on this. An appropriate investigation should be conducted and the facts should be brought to light,' he said.

Unconfirmed Reports of Internal Discontent

The remarks come amid unconfirmed reports that Siddaramaiah had expressed dissatisfaction over the pace and direction of the investigation and had allegedly indicated that certain insiders may have conspired against him. These reports remain unverified, and Siddaramaiah himself has not publicly confirmed the specifics of his Delhi conversation.

Notably, Rajanna's comments arrived on the same day that Prajwal Prasad — allegedly a member of the social media team of Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy — appeared before the Central Crime Branch (CCB) police in Bengaluru in connection with the case.

Key Developments in the CCB Probe

The CCB had issued a notice to Prajwal Prasad, who is accused of handing over a mobile phone to content creator Ritesh Kumar Pandey at H.D. Kumaraswamy's official residence in New Delhi. Prasad, who has obtained interim bail from a court, appeared before investigators on Tuesday morning.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said the mobile phone allegedly used to upload the sting operation video was purchased in Delhi and brought to Union Minister Kumaraswamy's official residence on Kushak Road. According to the police investigation, Ritesh Pandey — arrested in New Delhi by Bengaluru City Police — disclosed that he had purchased the phone in Karol Bagh along with Vinod Sharma, allegedly on the instructions of Prajwal Prasad.

The device was subsequently brought to Kumaraswamy's official residence and allegedly handed over to Prajwal Prasad. Police are also examining financial transactions that reportedly occurred after Pandey purchased the device.

What Police Expect from Prasad's Questioning

'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,' Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are expected to seek further details on the chain of custody of the device and the financial trail. Whether Prasad's questioning leads to additional arrests or formal charges remains to be seen.