Ghaziabad resident produced in Bengaluru court, released on bail
A man from Ghaziabad arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru police in connection with an alleged sting operation targeting former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah was produced before a local court on Saturday and granted bail, police said.
The accused, identified as Ritesh Pandey of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, was detained in Delhi and later taken into custody by CCB sleuths, who said he was suspected of uploading the contentious video to social media platforms. Pandey was reportedly produced before the court after the arrest and subsequently released on bail, the police confirmed.
Phone seized, forensic examination ordered
According to the police, Pandey had uploaded the footage using a second-hand smartphone he purchased in Delhi. To allegedly evade identification, he did not use a mobile SIM card and instead relied on a Wi-Fi connection to post the material online. The device was seized and forwarded for forensic analysis, Bengaluru police said.
Investigators further stated that Pandey was given the footage on a pen drive. CCB officers noted that the accused followed only four social media profiles, including those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and H.D. Kumaraswamy, the former Karnataka chief minister and Union Minister, the police added.
Links to JD(S) camp office and summonses to party functionaries
Police records indicate that Pandey had been working in the camp office of Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy. Separately, the CCB issued a summons on Friday to Mohan Gowda. The probe also names Chandan; both Mohan Gowda and Chandan are described in police notices as JD(S) IT cell functionaries and were earlier issued notices on 13 October in connection with the matter.
- Accused: Ritesh Pandey of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
- Arresting agency: Central Crime Branch, Bengaluru police
- Allegation: uploading controversial sting footage to social media
- Evidence seized: second-hand smartphone and a pen drive; phone sent for forensic examination
- Associations noted: worked in Kumaraswamy's camp office; followed four social media profiles including PM Modi and H.D. Kumaraswamy
"Police visited Mohan’s residence when he was not there and searched the house," said Pradeep Gowda, the JD(S) spokesperson, as the party accused the police of harassing family members of its workers.
The JD(S) has publicly alleged harassment of relatives of party functionaries during the course of the investigation. The party’s spokesperson, Pradeep Gowda, said police searched the residence of Mohan Gowda while he was not present. The party has been vocal about what it describes as harassment of family members of its workers.
Local implications and legal process
For Ghaziabad residents, the case is notable because it connects a local resident to a politically sensitive investigation in another state. While the Bengaluru CCB continues investigative steps — including forensic analysis of the seized phone and follow-up summonses to JD(S) IT cell members — the accused from Ghaziabad is out on bail as proceedings continue.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed further charges or the next court date for Pandey. The procedural course in such matters typically involves forensic reports, additional interrogations of those summoned and possible filing of a chargesheet if evidence is deemed sufficient by investigators.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Arresting agency | Central Crime Branch, Bengaluru police |
| Suspect | Ritesh Pandey (Ghaziabad, UP) |
| Action taken | Phone seized; phone sent for forensic examination; suspect granted bail |
Investigation teams in Bengaluru will determine the evidentiary value of digital material recovered from the seized devices. The involvement of persons identified as JD(S) IT cell functionaries has already drawn political attention in Karnataka; here in Ghaziabad the immediate impact is primarily the legal status of a city resident who has been connected to the probe.
Further developments, including any additional summonses, charges or court proceedings, are expected as forensic results and witness statements form part of the ongoing CCB inquiry.
