Karnataka sting operation row: Power TV head Rakesh Shetty questioned

Rakesh Shetty, head of Kannada news channel Power TV, was taken into custody for questioning and later released in connection with a sting operation case filed on a complaint by former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deccan Herald reported. The Central Cyber Crime Division has issued him a notice to appear for further questioning.After gathering information on the case over the past week, the police have intensified their investigation. According to Deccan Herald, cyber police took Rakesh Shetty into custody on the night of Wednesday, October 21, from a private hotel in Mysuru where he had been staying for four days and brought him to Bengaluru early Thursday.Rakesh has since approached the court seeking anticipatory bail. The CCH Court adjourned the hearing on his application to Friday.Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy had approached the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner and the Director General and Inspector General of Police, seeking Rakesh’s arrest. Kumaraswamy named him as the prime accused in the sting operation case.The case relates to a purported sting video, reportedly filmed in 2023 and recently aired by local television channels, linking Siddaramaiah to allegations of blackmail and a supposed honey-trap network. Siddaramaiah has denied the allegations, describing the video as politically motivated and intended to tarnish his image. A Bengaluru civil court granted an interim injunction restraining certain media organisations and digital platforms from broadcasting or publishing allegedly defamatory content and viral videos linking him to the sting operation.On October 15, Kumaraswamy had alleged that two members of his party’s social media team were picked up for questioning over a post purportedly defaming Siddaramaiah, with one cadre allegedly detained for several hours at an undisclosed location without prior notice. Following this, Kumaraswamy staged a sit-in protest at the Bengaluru police commissioner’s office, offering to undergo any investigation into the alleged sting operation.DKS in Delhi, denies discussing sting operationThe investigation has also become a point of political contention within Karnataka’s Congress leadership. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is learnt to have told the party’s central leadership that the sting operation was orchestrated by the JD(S) to discredit Congress leaders in the state, Deccan Herald reported, citing sources.Shivakumar met Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal in New Delhi on Thursday after being summoned to explain the controversy. Home Minister Priyank Kharge was also at Venugopal’s residence. The meeting lasted more than 40 minutes.Deccan Herald added that Shivakumar told Venugopal that the JD(S) leadership had conspired to discredit the Congress and destabilise the state government. He said he had ordered an investigation and that the truth would emerge soon.Venugopal had called the meeting after Siddaramaiah and other Congress leaders in Karnataka raised concerns with the central leadership about the potential damage to the party’s reputation and sought immediate intervention. Some leaders also warned that the controversy could affect the party in the upcoming local body elections.Shivakumar, however, later denied discussing the sting operation with Venugopal. He also denied that Priyank Kharge had accompanied him to the meeting, saying the Home Minister had visited Venugopal separately and that their presence at the residence coincided.“I am not aware that Priyank also came to Venugopal’s house when I reached there. He came to Delhi on departmental work and also visited Venugopal’s residence. We both met Venugopal separately,” Shivakumar said.Shivakumar said his meeting had instead focused on pending appointments of chairpersons to boards and corporations and filling two vacant Cabinet positions. He said Venugopal had assured him that the list would be approved after Rahul Gandhi returned from his foreign tour in a couple of days.“We have to appoint some of the MLAs as chairmen of boards and corporations. The issue of vacant Cabinet berths was also discussed. Venugopal assured that he would communicate with the state leadership soon,” Shivakumar said.He added that the government would announce the appointment of around 500 members as directors to various boards and corporations after the model code of conduct for the MLC elections ends.