Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has secured an interim court injunction restraining the publication and circulation of a video he alleges is part of a politically motivated campaign to malign him, calling it an attempt at character assassination.
The court move comes amid a political row over Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's warning less than a week ago that Congress ministers could be targeted through sting operations and attempts to entrap them. Union Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy had hit out at Shivakumar over the warning and called for a CBI probe.
According to The Indian Express, the video was reportedly filmed in 2023 and recently broadcast by some local television channels. It purportedly features discussions about unverified incidents from 2011, when Siddaramaiah was the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly and BS Yediyurappa was Chief Minister.
On Tuesday, the 19th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court in Bengaluru, presided over by Judge B Pushpanjali, passed an ex parte interim order, restraining the defendants from publishing, broadcasting, uploading, sharing or disseminating the video through any medium.
The order bars the defendants, including their proprietors, editors, employees, representatives and others acting on their behalf, from circulating the video in any form.
Siddaramaiah has described the circulation of the video as a campaign of disinformation and denied any connection with it. He has also approached the City Police Commissioner, seeking an impartial investigation into the matter.
In a statement, the Congress veteran alleged that the video was being used to target him with politically motivated falsehoods. He urged the media and the public not to circulate information he considers false.
Siddaramaiah said his five-decade-long political career was an open book and expressed confidence that the truth would prevail. He also maintained that he supported freedom of expression and had never obstructed the media from exercising it, but argued that the alleged misuse of that freedom had compelled him to seek judicial intervention.
KUMARASWAMY INTENSIFIES ATTACK
HD Kumaraswamy has escalated the political row and demanded a CBI probe and announcing plans to take up the matter with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Questioning the state government's handling of the controversy, Kumaraswamy said the issue had eclipsed other concerns in Karnataka. He also criticised the circumstances that led former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to seek judicial intervention over the disputed video.
" A former chief minister (Siddaramaiah) who held office for eight years was made to approach the court over the issue. He was a leader who served the state for eight years and, in terms of tenure, surpassed the record of Devaraj Urs. Is this how you treat such a leader?" Kumaraswamy asked.
"The sting operation case should now be handed over to the CBI," he said at a press conference, urging the state government to act and ensure that those involved were identified.
"Let everyone involved come out into the open. The truth must emerge out," he said.
Taking direct aim at Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy said, "Shivakumar, you have now used the expression 'sting operation'. You watered and nurtured this operation, and the saplings you cultivated have now grown into enormous trees. You must face the consequences of what has grown out of it."
Kumaraswamy further alleged that Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah had worked together to politically destroy the Deve Gowda family.
DKS READY FOR PROBE
Responding to Kumaraswamy's allegations, Shivakumar said he was prepared to furnish documents for any investigation into the alleged sting operation.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, he welcomed the demand for an inquiry and said he would gather the relevant records and share them with the investigating authorities.
"Very happy. They are doing a good job, bringing to the notice of the state an important issue. I will respond. I will get all the documents and inform them. They have said someone should enquire (into the issue), let them give it (documents) to them," Shivakumar said.
Dismissing Kumaraswamy's allegations, he added that time would provide the answer to the JD(S) leader's claims.
YATHINDRA CALLS VIDEO CONSPIRACY TO MALIGN FATHER
Siddaramaiah's son, Karnataka Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, also dismissed the video as fake and alleged that it was intended to damage his father's reputation.
Yathindra said a complaint had been filed seeking action against those responsible for circulating the video, arguing that people unfamiliar with the facts could be misled into believing it was genuine.
Rejecting the description of the footage as a sting operation, he called it a conspiracy to spread false propaganda and tarnish someone's image.
Yathindra said his father had informed him about the video soon after it surfaced and told him he intended to lodge a complaint. He advised him to proceed after taking legal advice.
Asked whether the episode reflected a deterioration in political discourse, Yathindra said even a veteran leader such as Siddaramaiah was now having to confront what he described as false allegations.
- Ends
(With PTI inputs)