Bengaluru, Oct 29: The Bengaluru police, which investigated the alleged sting operation containing defamatory content against former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Thursday said the allegation of sexual abuse is part of a "fabricated and deliberately constructed narrative."
The police said that the statements and evidence collected do not substantiate the occurrence of any such incident as mentioned in the video.
"The evidence gathered so far prima facie indicates that the allegations of sexual abuse portrayed in the video are part of a fabricated and deliberately constructed narrative," the Bengaluru police said in a statement.
Police said that all individuals appearing in the video have been identified and extensively examined, some on multiple occasions.
"Their statements and the evidence collected so far, prima facie, with regard to the allegations made or implied in the recording about any individuals mentioned in the video, is false and concocted," the statement said.
According to police, the original mobile phone allegedly used to record the video has been successfully traced, recovered and seized. The device has been forwarded for forensic examination to establish the authenticity, integrity and other technical aspects of the recording. The forensic examination report is awaited.
Police said the video was allegedly recorded in 2023, purportedly concerning an incident dating back to 2011.
They added that the circumstances under which the video was created, the purpose behind recording it nearly 12 years after the alleged incident, the identities and roles of those involved and their possible motives are all being thoroughly investigated.
"A key aspect of the investigation is to determine whether the recording was deliberately staged, fabricated or manipulated to create a misleading narrative and serve ulterior motives," the statement said.
Further investigation into these aspects is continuing, it added.
Police said they were examining the possession, transfer and dissemination of the video, including how it came into the custody of the individuals who eventually uploaded it onto social media platforms.
"Efforts are underway to reconstruct the complete chain of possession, from the original recording in 2023 to its circulation on the internet in September-October 2026," the statement said.
Stating that the video was uploaded onto multiple social media platforms, police said it was carried out through anonymous accounts "employing sophisticated methods of digital concealment, including Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), masked IP addresses, virtual and spoofed phone numbers and other anonymisation techniques, with digital traces associated with locations outside Karnataka."
Through detailed technical analysis and examination of electronic evidence, investigators identified and traced the mobile phone associated with uploading the video onto YouTube.
"Further investigation led to a mobile phone shop in Delhi dealing in used and refurbished devices, from where the phone had been purchased. The individuals involved in procuring the device have also been identified," police said.
They said that one of the accused persons connected with the procurement of the mobile phone was arrested from the National Capital Region (NCR) on October 24. He has been "extensively examined."
"Preliminary findings indicate that the accused appears to be working as a freelance social media content creator and may have associations with certain highly politically connected individuals based in New Delhi. The nature, extent and relevance of these associations are being investigated," police said.
Police appealed to the public, media organisations and social media users to exercise restraint and responsibility while reporting on or discussing this matter and from amplifying unverified allegations or drawing premature conclusions that could mislead the public or prejudice the ongoing investigation.
"A comprehensive investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the creation, recording, possession, transfer and subsequent dissemination of the video," police said.
The alleged sting operation video was posted on a social media platform compelling Siddaramaiah to obtain an injunction from a court against the airing, transmitting and publishing it.
He had also lodged a police complaint in this regard.
While Siddaramaiah named Kripa Alva, who was aspiring a Congress ticket from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada, behind the sting operation, his son and Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah blamed some Congress leaders behind it.
Police arrested a few individuals, including the social media team members of JD(S). A 22-year-old man from New Delhi identified as Ritesh Pandey has been arrested for uploading the video on a social media platform.
They also questioned Kripa Alva and Rajesh Shetty in this connection.
Union Minister and JD(S) second-in-command H D Kumaraswamy alleged that the police were framing innocent party workers while sparing those who were the masterminds of it.
