Karnataka Congress Expels Kripa Alva for Six Years Over Siddaramaiah Sting Operation Row

Bengaluru, Oct 31 : The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has expelled former party general secretary Kripa Alva for six years with immediate effect over allegations of her involvement in a purported sting operation targeting senior Congress leaders, including former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The expulsion order, issued by KPCC Vice-President M Narayanaswamy, stated that the controversy had embarrassed the party and attracted negative publicity and adverse media attention. It also noted that a show-cause notice had been served on Alva seeking her explanation, but she had not responded so far.

Citing alleged anti-party activities, the order said that, on the instructions of KPCC President, Alva was being expelled from the party for six years with immediate effect.

The controversy revolves around a purported sting video containing sexual abuse allegations against Siddaramaiah in connection with an alleged incident dating back to 2011. Siddaramaiah had accused Alva and Power TV Managing Director Rakesh Shetty of orchestrating the operation in an attempt to blackmail and malign him.

Alva, who was reportedly aspiring for a Congress ticket from Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district, was questioned by investigators in connection with the case.

According to media reports citing police sources, the woman featured in the video told investigators that she had never met Siddaramaiah and had made the statements after allegedly being paid and coached by a group in 2023. She also reportedly acknowledged meeting Shetty and Alva.

In her statement to investigators, Alva reportedly maintained that she was unaware that the conversation was being recorded and did not know the woman. She is learnt to have said that she accompanied Shetty after he told her that he wanted to expose certain people.

Siddaramaiah had approached a Bengaluru court seeking a restraint on the circulation of the video. Subsequently, a city civil and sessions court granted an interim injunction restraining 42 media organisations, digital platforms and other entities from publishing or circulating the recordings.

In a significant development, Bengaluru Police on Thursday said that the sexual abuse allegations in the video were part of a "fabricated and deliberately constructed narrative". The police stated that the statements recorded and evidence collected during the investigation did not substantiate the alleged incident.

Investigators have also seized the original mobile phone allegedly used to record the video and sent it for forensic examination. The probe is focusing on how the recording was made, its subsequent circulation through anonymous social media accounts and the possible motives behind the operation.

The controversy has triggered a political confrontation, with Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy questioning the police investigation and demanding a CBI probe. Several individuals, including members of the JD(S) social media team, have also been arrested in connection with the circulation of the video.

Alva's expulsion has added another dimension to the controversy, bringing internal party dynamics and allegations of political conspiracy into sharper focus.