Siddaramaiah to skip Rahul Gandhi's tea meeting, cites prior engagement in Hassan

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is unlikely to attend the tea meeting called by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday, citing a pre-scheduled engagement in Hassan. He has informed the party that he will be unable to join the meeting.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress president B.K. Hariprasad and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar are expected to attend the meeting.

Siddaramaiah is scheduled to visit Hassan on Friday to attend the annual Hasanamba festival and seek darshan at the historic Hasanamba Temple. The Hoysala-era temple opened its doors to devotees on October 29, 2026, and the annual Jatra Mahotsava will conclude on November 11.

His decision to skip the meeting comes days after he met Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Monday, November 3. The two leaders discussed the fallout from an alleged fake sting operation video targeting Siddaramaiah.

The closed-door meeting was held at 10 Janpath, the residence of Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Siddaramaiah was accompanied by his son, Karnataka Urban Development Minister Yatindra Siddaramaiah. He had also held discussions with AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Police investigation into the alleged sting video has prima facie indicated that the claims made in it were fabricated and deliberately constructed.

In a press note, the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, said a comprehensive investigation was underway into the creation, recording, possession, transfer and circulation of the video, which has triggered widespread media coverage and public speculation.

"The evidence gathered so far prima facie indicates that the allegations of sexual abuse portrayed in the video is part of a fabricated and deliberately constructed narrative. The statements recorded and evidence collected during the investigation thus far, do not substantiate the occurrence of any such incident as depicted in the video," the police said.

The police added that all individuals appearing in the video had been identified and extensively questioned, with some examined on multiple occasions. Their statements and the evidence collected so far, it said, prima facie indicated that the allegations made or implied against individuals in the recording were "false and concocted". The investigation is continuing.

(With ANI inputs)