Bengaluru City Police have said that their investigation into the alleged sting video targeting former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has prima facie found that the allegations portrayed in the video are part of a fabricated and deliberately constructed narrative. In a press note, the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, said a comprehensive investigation is under way into the creation, recording, possession, transfer and subsequent dissemination of the video, which has circulated widely on social media.
Source: ANI — Bengaluru Police press note on the Siddaramaiah sting video
"The evidence gathered so far prima facie indicates that the allegations of sexual abuse portrayed in the video is part of a fabricated and deliberately constructed narrative. The statements recorded and evidence collected during the investigation thus far do not substantiate the occurrence of any such incident as depicted in the video," the police said. Police said all individuals appearing in the video have been identified and extensively examined, some on multiple occasions, and that the allegations made or implied in the recording about any individuals mentioned in it prima facie appear false and concocted.
Source: PTI — Bengaluru Police statement on the sting operation allegations
Recording phone seized, upload trail traced to Delhi
Police said the original mobile phone allegedly used to record the video has been traced, recovered and seized, and has been forwarded for forensic examination to establish its authenticity and integrity; the forensic report is awaited. The video was allegedly recorded in 2023, purportedly concerning an incident dating back to 2011, and investigators are reconstructing the complete chain of possession from that recording to its circulation on the internet in September-October 2026. According to police, the video was uploaded to platforms including YouTube and X through anonymous accounts using VPNs, masked IP addresses and virtual or spoofed phone numbers, with digital traces associated with locations outside Karnataka.
Source: ANI — Bengaluru Police press note on the Siddaramaiah sting video
The upload trail led investigators to a mobile phone shop in Delhi dealing in used and refurbished devices. One accused connected with the procurement of that phone was arrested from the National Capital Region on October 24, 2026 — the arrest Awaaz Punjab reported earlier in this case. Police said preliminary findings indicate the accused appears to work as a freelance social media content creator and may have associations with certain highly politically connected individuals based in New Delhi.
Source: PTI — Bengaluru Police statement on the sting operation allegations
This police finding follows the earlier arrest in the same case, reported by Awaaz Punjab on October 24. Read the earlier story: Delhi-linked arrest in the Siddaramaiah sting video case
Police said the investigation has uncovered leads suggesting the video's circulation may have been a deliberate attempt to malign and discredit individuals occupying positions of responsibility in the state, influence public perception and generate political controversy and public discord, and that the possibility of a coordinated effort by multiple individuals is being examined. The Commissioner appealed to the public and media to exercise restraint and not amplify unverified allegations, saying police are committed to establishing the truth and identifying those responsible for any criminal wrongdoing. The forensic report on the seized phone is the next major step awaited in the case.
Source: ANI — Bengaluru Police press note on the Siddaramaiah sting video