4 publishers · first seen Thu, 29 Oct 2026 00:00 UTC · updated Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:55 UTC
Bengaluru police said their investigation into a purported sting video involving former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah found that the allegations of sexual abuse were part of a fabricated narrative, with evidence so far not substantiating the incident depicted. The video, allegedly recorded in 2023 and concerning an event from 2011, was uploaded using anonymous accounts with VPNs and masked identifiers, and digital traces linked some activity to locations outside Karnataka, including Delhi. The original mobile phone used to record the video was recovered and sent for forensic examination, while Ritesh Pandey, who uploaded the video, was arrested in the National Capital Region on October 24 and later granted bail. Pandey claimed he acted on instructions from someone linked to the JD(S) social media team, a claim under investigation.
Several individuals, including members of the JD(S) social media team, have been arrested, and the police are examining a possible coordinated effort to circulate the video to malign public officials and create political controversy.
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