Phone used in sting operation exchanged at HD Kumaraswamy's Delhi home
Bengaluru City police commissioner says an accused confessed the device was swapped at the Union minister's residence.
The mobile phone reportedly used to upload a video targeting a former Karnataka chief minister was swapped at the official Delhi residence of Union minister HD Kumaraswamy, according to The Times of India.
Bengaluru City police commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said that Ritesh Pandey, who was arrested in connection with the case, confessed the exchange took place at the minister's home. Investigators are working to determine who else was involved in the exchange and their roles in the alleged conspiracy.
Preliminary investigations suggest Pandey worked with freelance social media content creator Vinod Sharma and Prajwal Prasad, an alleged member of the JD(S) social media wing, to get the phone. Notices were issued to Sharma and Prasad, but both are currently absconding and have not appeared before officers.
Singh stated that Prasad allegedly instructed Sharma and Pandey to buy the device in Delhi's Karol Bagh area using Aadhaar credentials. The phone was then reportedly handed over to Prasad.
Police are examining suspicious financial transactions between Prasad and Pandey, as well as the duration of their collaboration. Pandey was arrested in Delhi on October 24 for his alleged role in getting the phone.
On October 29, police stated that evidence gathered so far indicated the sexual abuse allegations in the video were part of a fabricated narrative. The video was allegedly recorded in 2023 regarding an incident from 2011.