BENGALURU: The mobile phone allegedly used to upload a “fabricated” video as a sting operation targeting former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah with allegations of sexual abuse exchanged hands at the official Delhi residence of Union minister HD Kumaraswamy, according to Bengaluru City police commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh.“Accused Ritesh Pandey, arrested in the case, had confessed the phone was exchanged at Kumaraswamy’s residence. However, investigators are yet to establish who else was involved in the exchange and the extent of their roles in the alleged conspiracy.”A senior officer, though, clarified they had only stated that the minister’s residence was used for the exchange of the phone.According to preliminary investigation, Pandey allegedly worked in coordination with Vinod Sharma, a freelance social media content creator, and Prajwal Prasad, an alleged member of the JD(S) social media wing, to procure the mobile phone.Notices have been issued to both Sharma, a Delhi resident, and Prajwal, who is from Bengaluru. However, both are absconding.According to the police commissioner, Sharma and Ritesh were instructed by Prajwal to purchase a device using Aadhaar credentials in Delhi’s Karol Bagh. The phone was then handed over to Prajwal. Ritesh was arrested in Delhi on Oct 24.
