Home Minister says ‘sting video’ controversy just trailer, full picture yet to emerge

Home Minister Priyank Kharge addressing a media conference at the Aiwan-e-Shahi Guest House in Kalaburagi on Sunday. | Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Sunday said the developments revealed so far in the alleged sting video controversy targeting former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were only a “trailer”, asserting that the full picture was yet to emerge as the investigation was still progressing.“Investigators have found technical evidence linking people associated with Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy to the procurement and handling of a mobile phone connected with the circulation of a purported sting video,” Mr. Kharge said at a media conference at Aiwan-e-Shahi Guest House in Kalaburagi on Sunday.“This is not based on mere hearsay; it is hard evidence, technical evidence, and irrefutable evidence that a Union Minister is indulging in such dirty politics and activities to malign senior leaders like Mr. Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, and our party. They should be ashamed of themselves,” Mr. Kharge said, asserting that more details would be made public at an appropriate stage without compromising the investigation.Criticising Mr. Kumaraswamy for shifting the blame for the ‘sting operation’ onto others, Mr. Kharge said: “First, they said Mr. Shivakumar engineered a ‘sting operation’. Then, they claimed someone else had done it, and the blame fell on them — and even on me. Then they said AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge got it done.”“We remained silent to protect the confidentiality of the investigation and ensure that the dignity of Mr. Siddaramaiah, the party and the Chief Minister was not compromised. When the time comes for the people of the State to know the facts, everything will be revealed. This is just a trailer; the full picture is yet to come,” he said.Strongly condemning personal attacks and caste-based slurs allegedly directed at him and his family in the wake of the controversy, Mr. Kharge said political differences should not be used as an excuse to target individuals and their families.Referring to Mr. Kumaraswamy’s demand for an investigation, Mr. Kharge said those who had called for action should cooperate with the investigating officers rather than questioning the process when people associated with their political circle were called for inquiry.“If they have done nothing wrong, they should appear before the investigating officers and give their statements,” he said, adding that nobody was above the law or the Constitution. Published - November 01, 2026 08:58 pm IST