News Desk: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) cybercrime police in Bengaluru have detained two people for questioning over the alleged circulation of videos targeting former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah. Police have registered a first information report (FIR) and are investigating the origin of the footage and the social media accounts involved in sharing it.
Siddaramaiah, a senior Congress leader and member of the party’s Congress Working Committee, alleged that the videos were being circulated as part of a conspiracy to damage his reputation. He approached Bengaluru police commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh with a complaint identifying social media accounts allegedly involved in spreading the material.
According to a police officer familiar with the investigation, the CCB has begun monitoring online platforms and tracing internet protocol (IP) addresses to identify those responsible. The two suspects are being questioned, although police have not disclosed their identities.
The investigation comes after the 19th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court in Bengaluru granted an interim injunction on Tuesday, restraining 42 media organisations and digital platforms from publishing or circulating two disputed videos allegedly linking Siddaramaiah to a controversy.
The court directed the concerned platforms to block access to the material, including video clips, screenshots, transcripts and edited versions. It noted that Siddaramaiah had questioned the authenticity and credibility of the footage and objected to its circulation without proper verification.
The controversy has also triggered a political dispute in Karnataka. Union minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. He alleged that deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar used a sting operation to pressure Siddaramaiah to step down and facilitate a change in the state’s Congress leadership. These allegations have not been established.
Shivakumar has been accused by Kumaraswamy, while the Congress has rejected the claims as politically motivated. No conclusion has been reached regarding the allegations.
Siddaramaiah’s son, minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, dismissed the footage as fake and alleged that it was intended to damage his father’s reputation. He said a complaint had been filed against those circulating the material and that legal action was being pursued.
Siddaramaiah also denied any connection with the purported sting operation. He said he approached the court as a precautionary measure against the publication of potentially defamatory material.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka criticised the Congress leadership and demanded an FIR over the alleged sting operation.
The police investigation is continuing as authorities attempt to establish the origin of the videos and determine whether any offence was committed in their circulation. The authenticity of the disputed footage and the competing political allegations remain unresolved.
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