Karnataka CM Shivakumar warns ministers against possible ‘spot operations’
File photo of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and his cabinet colleagues. | Photo credit: file photo
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is learned to have warned his cabinet colleagues to remain vigilant against possible sting operations, amid reports that private agencies could be secretly recording conversations, meetings and movements of ministers.
Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and Minister HC Balakrishna, who attended the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, confirmed that Mr Shivakumar, who also holds the intelligence portfolio, had alerted ministers about possible sting operations.
“Since the chief minister has the intelligence portfolio, he warned us based on some information he received,” Mr. Parameshwara told reporters.
Mr Shivakumar is learned to have raised the issue in a cabinet meeting and showed ministers a ‘folder’ containing details of alleged ongoing operations. The file reportedly contained the names of several ministers who were allegedly targeted.
The Chief Minister is said to have advised ministers to be cautious in light of this alleged development. Ministers were also reportedly advised to be careful when meeting strangers privately or taking pictures with strangers.
Political charge
Meanwhile, Mr Balakrishna sought to link the alleged sting to Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy, accusing him of trying to damage the Chief Minister’s political standing.
“Why didn’t he remember the NICE land issue and undergo padayatra when Siddaramaiah was chief minister?” asked Mr. Balakrishna, referring to Mr. Kumaraswamy’s recent political campaigns against the Congress government.
The minister alleged that Mr. Kumaraswamy had been using protests and padayatras ever since Mr. Shivakumar became Chief Minister in an attempt to undermine his position as a prominent Vokkaliga leader.
His remarks also referenced the state’s long history of political allegations involving alleged CDs, pens and other forms of recorded material. About a decade ago, Mr. Kumaraswamy claimed to be in possession of a CD containing material relating to the alleged corruption of former minister G. Janardhan Reddy, although the material was not subsequently made public.
The latest warning comes at a time when political activity is intensifying in Karnataka, with major parties already gearing up for the 2028 assembly elections.
This is not the first time that Mr. Shivakumar has warned Congress leaders of possible action against them by investigative agencies. During the Enforcement Directorate searches, which included family members of Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, he alleged that Congress MLAs and ministers were under surveillance by the agency and urged party leaders to remain vigilant.
However, the latest claims of alleged sting operations have not been independently proven.
A long history
The latest episode also brings to life Karnataka’s long history of political battles involving taped interviews and allegedly incriminating material – from audio tapes in the 1980s to video CDs, sting, pen and more recently digitally recorded interviews and videos.
Such material has regularly been used as a political weapon, with accusations, counter-accusations and demands for investigations often becoming part of electoral and intra-party battles.
Published – 7 Oct 2026 19:29 IST