Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has said the complete facts of the Bengaluru sting operation case will be disclosed within a week, after discussing the investigation at length with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. He said the probe was being conducted transparently and would establish who carried out the operation, why it was conducted and where it took place.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kharge also said investigators would identify who encouraged the operation and who uploaded the video connected to the case. He did not disclose further details of the investigation, saying that releasing information prematurely could affect the process.
Kharge reiterated his claim that the case was fabricated. He said he had information supporting that position but would provide evidence when necessary. He added that he had not made all the information public because unnecessary statements could interfere with the investigation.
The minister defended the decision not to release every stage of the probe publicly. Investigators, he said, could not broadcast the process continuously in front of cameras or conduct it like a reality television programme. Information could be sought through legal procedure, a court or the Right to Information framework, in which case records would be provided according to the applicable rules, he said.
Kharge said the direction of the investigation would be decided by officials of the Home Department and not by statements made by former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. He said journalists had been called for questioning in connection with the case, while other individuals considered relevant or subject to suspicion had also been questioned. Statements from various people had been recorded and the questioning had been video-recorded, he said.
The minister also called on Kumaraswamy to cooperate with the investigation, alleging that people who had been issued notices had not appeared for questioning. Kharge questioned why anyone with nothing to conceal would avoid the inquiry and asked whether Kumaraswamy was protecting individuals connected with the case. These remarks were made by the minister; the report does not include a response from Kumaraswamy.
Kharge said the investigation had been entrusted to his department by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and that the government’s and Siddaramaiah’s dignity were at stake. He said the full details would establish which side had been truthful. The minister’s stated timeline is that the complete facts of the case will emerge within a week.
