State government trying to protect accused in sting operation and KPSC cases, says HDK

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday alleged that the State government was trying to protect the accused in the sting operation case and in the case relating to the irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC).

Speaking to presspersons at Mavinakere in Holenarasipur, Hassan district, Mr. Kumaraswamy said that since the sting operation case surfaced, the police under Home Minister Priyank Kharge had been targeting Janata Dal (Secular) workers, including those handling the party’s social media accounts.

He alleged that the Home Minister was covering up the cases by having them investigated by officers of his choice. “Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his son Yathindra have demanded a fair investigation into the sting operation case. However, the police are trying to protect the main accused. The government, in a way, helped him get anticipatory bail,” he alleged.

He said that instead of investigating the person who admitted to conducting the sting operation, the police were going after JD(S) workers. The police had visited the workers’ homes and seized their electronic devices, the Union Minister stated.

“The State government is protecting the person who conducted the sting in 2023. The Chief Minister and senior Congress leaders know why it was done. However, the government is trying to blackmail us in the name of an investigation,” he alleged.

Mr. Kumaraswamy also wanted to know what had happened to the investigation into the irregularities in the KPSC examinations. He alleged that the government had moved the Supreme Court so that the probe could be conducted by officers of its choice, which he termed an attempt to cover up the case and shield the real accused.