Now Reading: Bengaluru Police say Siddaramaiah sting video fabricated
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Bengaluru Police say Siddaramaiah sting video fabricated
The Story in Brief
Bengaluru City Police on 29 October said the sting video targeting former chief minister Siddaramaiah is part of a fabricated and deliberately constructed narrative. The evidence collected so far does not substantiate the sexual abuse allegations depicted, the police said.
All individuals appearing in the video have been identified and examined, some multiple times. The original mobile phone used for the recording has been seized and sent for forensic examination. The video was uploaded to social media in September-October 2026 via anonymous accounts using VPNs and other concealment methods. A freelance content creator, Ritesh Pandey, was arrested in NCR on 24 October in connection with procuring the phone used for the YouTube upload, he was granted bail the same day.
Police said the circulation may be a coordinated effort to malign individuals holding positions of responsibility in Karnataka and trigger political controversy. Notices have been issued to some identified individuals. The investigation continues into the creation, transfer, and dissemination of the video.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Hindu and The South First stick to neutral police statements, reporting the fabricated-narrative claim and the technical investigation without adding political context. Deccan Chronicle and Indian Express also report the police version but add the arrestee's name (Ritesh Pandey) and his bail, giving slightly more detail on the Delhi connection. The Federal goes further, reporting that Siddaramaiah is unhappy with the police handling and is considering approaching Rahul Gandhi, and that JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy has alleged a conspiracy to remove Siddaramaiah from the chief minister's post. Deccan Herald runs the story as a brief in an evening news roundup, with no additional political framing. The differences are that The Federal and Indian Express include the political angles and the arrest details, while others focus on the police findings alone.
The next step is the forensic report on the seized mobile phone, which police said is awaited.
Coverage: 6 sources, 6 neutral
Sources (6): thehindu.com (neutral report), deccanchronicle.com (neutral report), thesouthfirst.com (neutral report), indianexpress.com (neutral report), deccanherald.com (neutral report), thefederal.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 6 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
