Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Congress MLA Alleges Sting Operation Targeted Karnataka Ministers
Ravi Kumar Gowda, a lawmaker from Karnataka’s ruling Congress party, says someone tried to secretly record government ministers.
He supported Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who had also said a sting operation targeted him.
Gowda alleged that private agencies were hired to watch the Chief Minister’s office and about 10 ministers.
He claimed the plan was to catch ministers in embarrassing situations and cause trouble for the government.
Gowda showed a pen drive that he said contained evidence.
He said documents, videos, recordings and photographs would be shared later.
These claims have not been established in the reports.
Opposition leader H D Kumaraswamy challenged Shivakumar to name who was behind the alleged operation and take legal action.
Mandya Congress MLA Ravi Kumar Gowda backed Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s claim of an attempted sting operation against his government.
Gowda alleged that private agencies from Delhi and Kolkata were hired to target the Chief Minister’s Office and about 10 ministers.
He claimed a Union Minister and two state-level leaders jointly engaged the agencies to trap government members and destabilise the government.
Gowda said the alleged operation had run in Bengaluru for two months and showed a pen drive, promising to release documents, videos, audio and photographs.
JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy challenged Shivakumar to identify the alleged operation’s backer and file a case against those involved.
- Who
- Congress MLA Ravi Kumar Gowda made the allegations; Chief Minister D K Shivakumar was the alleged target, and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy challenged him to identify those responsible.
- What
- Gowda alleged that private agencies were hired to conduct a sting operation targeting the Chief Minister’s Office and about 10 ministers.
- When
- Gowda made the claims on Friday, October 9; he alleged the agencies had been active for two months.
- Where
- The allegations were made in Mandya, Karnataka; the alleged surveillance was in Bengaluru.
- Why
- Gowda alleged the operation aimed to trap ministers in compromising situations, embarrass the government and destabilise it.
Gowda’s allegations
Kumaraswamy’s challenge
What happened
Gowda’s allegations
Gowda said private agencies were hired to target the Chief Minister’s Office and ministers, and that he had documents and other evidence.
Kumaraswamy’s challenge
Kumaraswamy challenged Shivakumar to identify the alleged operation’s ‘God Father’ and take legal action against those involved.
Purpose and response
Gowda’s allegations
Gowda alleged the operation aimed to catch ministers in compromising situations, embarrass the government and destabilise it; he urged ministers to stay alert.
Kumaraswamy’s challenge
Kumaraswamy’s reported response called on the Chief Minister to name the person behind the alleged operation and file a case.
- Person making allegations
- Ravi Kumar Gowda (Ganiga), Congress MLA for Mandya
- Chief Minister
- D K Shivakumar
- Alleged targets
- The Chief Minister’s Office, officials and about 10 ministers
- Agencies named
- Private agencies from Delhi and Kolkata, according to Gowda
- Alleged duration and location
- Two months in Bengaluru, according to Gowda
- Evidence cited
- Gowda displayed a pen drive and said documents, videos, audio recordings and photographs would be made public
- Opposition response
- H D Kumaraswamy challenged Shivakumar to name the alleged backer and file a case against those involved
