Bengaluru, May 21 (FN Agency) Amidst a storm of controversy, former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Monday accused authorities of tapping 40 phones, including his own and those of his family and supporters. Kumaraswamy, a prominent figure in the JDS, alleged that conversations on these phones, including those of his brother HD Revanna, are being closely monitored. “Our phones are under surveillance. I’m certain of it. Forty phones within my circle are tapped. Every conversation is being scrutinised. Even H D Revanna’s phone is not spared,” Kumaraswamy told reporters here. This revelation comes on the heels of a scandal involving explicit videos purportedly linked to Prajwal Revanna, who is currently abroad.
The scandal has roiled the JDS and triggered legal actions against Prajwal. In a twist to the saga, Kumaraswamy pointed fingers at Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, alleging his involvement in circulating pen drives containing the scandalous videos. However, Shivakumar vehemently denies these accusations. Home Minister G Parameshwara also dismissed Kumaraswamy’s allegations of phone tapping, brushing them off as attention-seeking ploys. They stressed that such intrusive measures are reserved for tackling terrorism, not for political figures. Adding to the drama, Kumaraswamy has publicly appealed to his nephew, Prajwal Revanna, a sitting MP, to return to India and assist with the investigation. Expressing remorse for not grasping the gravity of the situation sooner, Kumaraswamy has extended apologies to the scandal’s victims.