Karnataka sting op row: CCB searches Power TV MD Rakesh Shetty’s residence, office

The Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) on Monday, November 2, searched the residence and office of Power TV managing director Rakesh Shetty in connection with an alleged sting operation targeting former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah.

Multiple teams of investigators carried out the searches after obtaining a court warrant. Rakesh is a key suspect in the case and has previously been questioned by the police. Expelled Congress leader Kripa Alva, who was also questioned, is suspected of being involved in the creation of the video along with Rakesh.

The case concerns a purported sting video, reportedly filmed in 2023 and recently aired by local television channels, which linked Siddaramaiah to allegations of blackmail and a supposed honey-trap network. Siddaramaiah has alleged that the operation was intended to blackmail him and damage his reputation.

He filed a police complaint seeking an investigation and approached a Bengaluru civil court, which granted an interim injunction restraining certain media organisations and digital platforms from broadcasting or publishing allegedly defamatory content and viral videos linking him to the sting operation.

The searches come a day after Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said investigators had traced the mobile phone allegedly used to upload the video to Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s official residence in New Delhi. According to the statement of arrested accused Ritesh Pandey, the phone was handed over at Kumaraswamy’s residence to Prajwal Prasad, who is associated with the Janata Dal (Secular)’s IT cell.

Ritesh, a Delhi-based man, was arrested on October 24 and was the first person held in the case. He was apprehended in Delhi and brought to Bengaluru for questioning. 

Ritesh told investigators that he and another person, Vinod Sharma, bought the phone in Delhi on Prajwal’s instructions. The CCB is trying to establish the device’s chain of custody and the circumstances in which it was used to upload the video.

The police have issued a notice to Prajwal, asking him to appear for questioning. His statement is expected to help investigators establish how the phone was procured and handed over to those allegedly involved in uploading the video.

Investigators are also examining the alleged roles of others involved in the creation and circulation of the videos.