Keralam CM confirms meeting businessman suspected of sting operation

Close on the heels of Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s revelation that unidentified visitors wearing camera-enabled Meta smart glasses had raised suspicions of a possible sting operation, Keralam Chief Minister V.D.

Satheesan on Wednesday confirmed that a businessman suspected of wearing the same device had also met him. Replying to questions at a press conference about the Karnataka Police probe into alleged attempts to conduct sting operations targeting the two Congress Chief Ministers, Mr.

Satheesan confirmed that he had met the businessman and received photographs of the meeting. “He had met me. I was also sent photographs of the meeting. Since an investigation is underway, I do not want to comment on the case,” he said.

Mr. Satheesan, however, questioned why the businessman appeared to wear the smart glasses during meetings with the two Congress leaders but not when meeting BJP leaders and other Ministers. “Was it only when he met Mr. Shivakumar and me that he wore those glasses?

There are two different photographs showing this difference,” he said. Mr. Satheesan also ruled out a separate probe by the Keralam government, saying the matter was already being investigated by the Karnataka Police. Mr.

Shivakumar had recently expressed suspicion that the businessman had attempted to record or spy on him during a meeting sought to discuss business matters. However, the visitor reportedly shifted the discussion to politics and electoral strategies, including booth-level calculations, raising suspicions about his intentions and the smart glasses he was wearing.

The Karnataka government subsequently ordered a probe into his identity and background.