CCB Searches TV Channel Head’s Home, Office In Siddaramaiah Sting Case
The searches come a day after the police said that the mobile phone allegedly used to upload the sting operation videos changed hands at the official residence of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy in Delhi
Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Police's CCB on Monday conducted searches at the residence and office of Kannada news channel Power TV’s head Rakesh Shetty in connection with an alleged sting operation targeting former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, official sources said.
Central Crime Branch (CCB) teams carried out the searches in the city since morning, they said.
Police have already questioned Shetty and now expelled Congress leader Kripa Alva, who are allegedly behind the sting videos.
Two videos containing serious allegations against Siddaramaiah were uploaded on YouTube, reportedly in September.
The Congress leader subsequently approached the court and obtained an injunction restraining the media from reporting on the videos. He also lodged a police complaint seeking an investigation.
The searches come a day after Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said that the mobile phone allegedly used to upload the sting operation videos targeting Siddaramaiah on social media was purchased in New Delhi and handed over to a person named Prajwal Prasad at the official residence of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy in the national capital.
The handover was made on Prasad's instructions, according to the statement of arrested accused Ritesh Pandey, the Commissioner said.
Pandey, a Delhi-based man, was arrested on October 24 in connection with uploading the video. He was the first person arrested in the case. The CCB had apprehended him in Delhi and brought him to the city for questioning.