Bengaluru, 14 Oct (H.S.): Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has moved court against the circulation of an allegedly defamatory video on social media and news platforms, prompting a judicial restraint on its dissemination and a political confrontation between Congress and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Home Minister Priyank Kharge told reporters in Bengaluru that an FIR had been registered and that police would conduct a comprehensive investigation into the video’s origin and circulation.

“Siddaramaiah has said that everything in the video is false. We will investigate who filmed it, where it was uploaded and who is behind it,” Kharge said.

The controversy intensified after Kumaraswamy raised the issue at a press conference on Tuesday, targeting Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and demanding that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Kumaraswamy said Siddaramaiah, who had served as chief minister for eight years, should not have been subjected to such a situation. He alleged that efforts were being made to end the former chief minister’s political career.

Rejecting Kumaraswamy’s allegation that Congress was responsible for producing the video, Kharge criticised the Union minister’s remarks and said he should exercise restraint when speaking about former chief ministers and Union ministers.

Kharge also referred to Prajwal Revanna’s imprisonment while questioning Kumaraswamy’s attempt to blame Congress.

“Are you saying Congress is responsible for Prajwal Revanna being jailed?” he asked, before making a sharp criticism of the family’s handling of the matter.

The exchanges have brought the controversy into the centre of Karnataka’s political debate, with Congress rejecting the allegation of its involvement and Kumaraswamy pressing for a central investigation.

Kharge reiterated that investigators would examine how the video was created and distributed. The court’s restraint followed Siddaramaiah’s petition challenging its circulation, while the police investigation will seek to identify those responsible for producing and uploading it.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman