The minister alleges possible involvement by party-linked individuals, while Siddaramaiah disputes the footage and police examine its creation and circulation.
BENGALURU A disputed video described as a purported sting operation has triggered fresh tensions within the Karnataka Congress after minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah alleged that people associated with the party may have been involved in recording or circulating material targeting his father, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Yathindra, Karnataka’s Urban Development Minister, said the video appeared to raise questions about possible involvement by individuals linked to Congress. He suggested the episode might be connected to an attempt by a party worker to secure a Congress ticket for the Puttur Assembly constituency during the 2023 elections. He also cautioned that the actions of one person should not automatically be attributed to the entire organisation.
Siddaramaiah has described the footage as fabricated and intended to harm his reputation. He filed a police complaint on October 6 seeking action against those responsible for creating and circulating it. A Bengaluru civil court later issued an interim injunction restricting publication or broadcast of the disputed material.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president B. K. Hariprasad said a show-cause notice would be issued to a party spokesperson allegedly connected to the footage. Such a notice allows the person concerned to respond before any further disciplinary decision. It does not, by itself, establish wrongdoing.
Cybercrime investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the video’s creation and distribution, including questions about identities and the possibility of fabricated or defamatory content. The authenticity of the footage and the allegations associated with it have not been conclusively established.
The case has intensified public discussion about relationships within the Karnataka Congress, including the reported differences between Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar. Opposition figures, including JD(S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy, have also called for an investigation. Claims about individual involvement remain allegations unless supported by evidence.