The Bangalore police on Monday searched the officers of Power TV as well as the home of its editor Rakesh Shetty after the news channel broadcast a sting alleging that chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s family members were involved in corruption. The police also questioned an anchor at the channel.
“The investigation was triggered by a complaint filed by the director of a construction firm who has been cited by the channel as a source of information on the alleged corruption involving the CM’s family,” the Indian Express reported. “The channel has run a series of programmes over the last month using a sting audio of alleged conversations of Rakesh Shetty with an important member of the CM’s family, WhatsApp chats exchanged by a construction firm official with another member of the family, and documents showing large deposits in banks accounts of firms linked to a family member.”
The police have filed a case of criminal intimidation, forgery, extortion, cheating, and criminal conspiracy against Shetty.
The chief minister, who has faced calls from the opposition to resign after the sting aired, has denied the allegations. According to the Indian Express, when asked about the police action against Power TV, he merely said. “The matter is in court.”
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