Bengaluru: Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday alleged that Chief Minister DK Shivakumar conspired with a journalist to carry out a sting operation on former CM Siddaramaiah, leading to his eventual ouster.

Addressing reporters, the JD(S) state president dubbed Shivakumar the "Sting Samrat of Karnataka" and demanded the arrest of those behind the operation.

"The conspiracy was carefully planned and successfully executed to remove Siddaramaiah. The Congress high command was also misled," Kumaraswamy said, alleging that the CM and a journalist used blackmail to oust Siddaramaiah.

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Kumaraswamy claimed that deliberate attempts were underway to implicate him in the matter. He alleged that Home Minister Priyank Kharge, acting on instructions from the CM, speeded up the investigation and attempted to record statements under the CrPC to entangle him.

Kumarswamy, who is also the JDS State President, said three people were part of Shivakumar's team to fix him in the sting conspiracy. The union minister, accused the police of harassing JD(S) cadre instead and harassing the part's social media workers.

"If you have the courage, arrest me. I am sitting in my office even now. Serve a notice and take me into custody instead of intimidating young party workers," Kumaraswamy challenged the state government. He met Bengaluru Police Commissioner earlier offering to answer their queries related to the sting.

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Questioning the confidentiality of governance, Kumarswamy alleged that details of a Cabinet discussion on the sting operation were deliberately leaked to select media outlets to deflect attention from the alleged irregularities in the NICE project.

"The CM must explain why the file was taken to the Cabinet and what it contained. He has allowed confidential discussions to become a public spectacle," he said.