Bengaluru: The mobile phone allegedly used to upload a video targeting a former Karnataka chief minister was exchanged at the official Delhi residence of Union minister HD Kumaraswamy, according to Bengaluru City police commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh.On investigations into alleged sting operation being probed by Cyber Crime Police Station of Central Crime Branch, Singh said: “Accused Ritesh Pandey, arrested in connection with 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 clarified they had only stated that the minister’s residence was used for the exchange of the phone.According to the 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, neither has appeared before the investigating officer and both are absconding. Police said they had also approached legal channels seeking anticipatory bail.Sharma and Ritesh were instructed by Prajwal to purchase a device using Aadhaar credentials in Delhi’s Karol Bagh area. The phone was subsequently handed over to Prajwal, Singh said. The questioning of Prajwal is expected to provide further leads.Investigators are also examining suspicious financial transactions between Prajwal and Ritesh, the duration of the trio’s stay and their alleged collaboration.Ritesh was arrested in Delhi on Oct 24 for his alleged role in procuring the phone. After being questioned over several days, he left Bengaluru with the investigating officer’s permission, a senior officer said. While his initial statements have been recorded, police are verifying details of the purchase in Karol Bagh and are awaiting further interrogation reports.The investigation is being supervised by deputy commissioner of police (Crime-2) Raja Imam Kasim P. On Oct 29, police had said the evidence gathered so far indicated that the allegations of sexual abuse portrayed in the video were part of a “fabricated and deliberately constructed narrative”.Statements recorded and evidence collected during the investigation had not substantiated the occurrence of any incident as depicted in the video, police said. Significantly, the video was allegedly recorded in 2023 and purportedly related to an incident dating to 2011.Police are investigating why it was recorded 12 years after the alleged incident.They are also examining how and why it was circulated on the internet in Sept-Oct 2026, the identities and roles of those involved, and their possible motives. The commissioner said multiple specialised teams had been deployed to investigate the case.Police have closed the entrance from Ali Asgar Road and deployed additional manpower at the city police commissioner’s office. The main entrance on Infantry Road also has additional police deployment. Officials said the move was to prevent any protests and any persons trying to enter the office.“Late Saturday night, a group of people had come to protest at the commissioner’s office in connection with a case involving former Rangayana director Addanda Cariappa. We don’t want such incidents to recur,” an official said.
