Bengaluru, 11 October

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday intensified his criticism of Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over the alleged sting operation controversy, questioning the government's handling of the matter and demanding an investigation into the claims.

"It is not an allegation. What are all the sequences from the last week going on regarding the sting operation? The Chief Minister has to spell out who the five ministers are," Kumaraswamy said. 

The controversy erupted after Shivakumar reportedly cautioned Cabinet colleagues during a meeting about possible sting operations targeting ministers. He referred to information about five ministers allegedly being targeted, though the identities of those ministers and the agencies purportedly involved have not been officially established.    

Kumaraswamy subsequently challenged Shivakumar to order a formal investigation, questioning why the CM had not disclosed the identities of those allegedly involved despite claiming to possess photographs, documents and other evidence.

Kumaraswamy alleged that the purported sting operation was carried out to remove Siddaramaiah from the Chief Minister's post and pave the way for DK Shivakumar to take over. 

The Union Minister further alleged that the controversy was being used to divert public attention from documents he had released concerning alleged irregularities in the NICE project.

Shivakumar, meanwhile, has maintained that attempts were made to entrap him after he assumed office and said he had collected evidence identifying those allegedly behind the operation.