Bengaluru, Oct 17: Karnataka’s Cyber Crime Police have approached YouTube for technical information to identify the source of a viral video linked to an alleged sting operation involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as investigators examine its authenticity, circulation and the motive behind its release. The request includes the internet protocol (IP) address used to upload the video and details that could help establish the uploader’s identity.
Officials said the police were pursuing multiple lines of inquiry to determine who created and circulated the footage and whether anyone manipulated it. The investigation has also become the centre of a political confrontation involving Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and the Congress government in Karnataka.
Investigators are examining whether the video is original or has been altered. They are also tracing its circulation across social media and trying to establish the circumstances in which it was produced and shared. The technical information sought from YouTube is expected to assist the inquiry into the upload’s origin and the people involved.
The controversy has intensified political exchanges between Kumaraswamy and Congress leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge. Kumaraswamy has launched sharp attacks on both leaders over the issue. Shivakumar has not responded to the Union Minister’s allegations, while Kharge has rejected them and said Kumaraswamy could be arrested in connection with the case if required.
Kumaraswamy subsequently challenged the state government to arrest him and staged a protest at the Bengaluru Police Commissioner’s Office.
Separately, the head of a private Kannada media organisation has claimed responsibility for making the sting video and said he had provided all relevant information to the investigating officers. His claim forms part of the wider context surrounding the inquiry, which is examining the video’s creation, its subsequent circulation and the purpose behind its release.
The police investigation is expected to establish the sequence of events, determine whether the footage was manipulated and identify those responsible for its production or dissemination. The technical response from YouTube could provide investigators with information about the upload, while the examination of the footage will address questions about its authenticity.
The case has drawn political attention as the authorities investigate the video’s origins amid competing allegations from political leaders. The inquiry remains focused on establishing the facts surrounding the footage and its circulation.
