FIR Filed Against JD(S)-Linked Social Media Pages Over CM Shivakumar Video

The Bengaluru police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against several social media pages linked to the Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)] over the alleged circulation of a morphed video featuring Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. The case was registered at the Sadashivanagar police station following a complaint filed by Deepu C R, a member of the Congress legal cell, who accused the social media handles of spreading false and defamatory content aimed at damaging the Chief Minister's reputation.

According to the complaint, the official JD(S) Facebook page and another page titled "Kumaraswamy for CM" uploaded a video on June 17 carrying a message that read, "Old habits start again. A trait born with someone cannot be washed away even if they are burnt." The complainant alleged that the video contained manipulated audio and misleading content designed to portray Shivakumar as making self-incriminating statements, thereby creating a false public perception about the Congress leader.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with acts intended to provoke unrest or create public disorder. Investigators are expected to examine the authenticity of the video, determine whether the content was digitally altered and identify those responsible for creating and distributing the material across social media platforms.

Also Read: D K Shivakumar Visits Tirupati Temple After Karnataka MLC Election Win

In his complaint, Deepu alleged that the posts were part of a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation and tarnish the image of both the Congress party and Chief Minister Shivakumar. He argued that the circulation of fabricated content through official and affiliated political platforms could mislead the public and fuel unnecessary political tensions in the state.

The controversy emerged amid an ongoing political dispute over the proposed Bidadi township project near Bengaluru. While the Congress-led state government has been promoting the project as a development initiative, opposition parties including the JD(S) and the BJP have intensified protests against it. The issue has become a major political flashpoint, with farmers and local residents expressing concerns about the project's impact on their livelihoods and land.

The political atmosphere surrounding the project has further escalated in recent weeks. During visits by JD(S) and BJP leaders to meet protesting farmers, posters targeting Union Minister and former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his family members reportedly appeared along roadsides. Criticising the incident, Kumaraswamy accused Shivakumar of encouraging such tactics, a charge the Chief Minister denied, stating that neither he nor the Congress had any connection with the posters. The latest FIR adds another dimension to the growing political confrontation between the ruling Congress and the opposition in Karnataka.

Also Read: BJP-Led Bengal Govt Moves To Revive Historic Calcutta Stock Exchange