NEW DELHI: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Saturday expelled former party general secretary Kripa Alva for six years over her alleged involvement in a sting operation targeting Congress leaders in the state.
The expulsion takes immediate effect, according to an order issued by KPCC vice-president M Narayanaswamy. The order said the controversy had caused embarrassment to the party because of negative publicity and media reactions. It also cited alleged anti-party activities as the reason for the disciplinary action.
"As your name has figured in this sting operation case and your conduct in the matter amounts to anti-party activities, on the instructions of the Hon'ble KPCC President, you are hereby expelled from the party for a period of six years with immediate effect," the order stated.
According to the KPCC, a show-cause notice had previously been issued to Alva seeking her explanation over the allegations. However, the party said she had not submitted any response so far.
The action comes amid an ongoing police investigation into a video allegedly targeting former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah. Siddaramaiah had named her behind the 'defamatory video'. The Bengaluru police said on Thursday that the sexual abuse allegation featured in the video was part of a "fabricated and deliberately constructed narrative".
"The evidence gathered so far prima facie indicates that the allegations of sexual abuse portrayed in the video are part of a fabricated and deliberately constructed narrative," the police said in a statement.
The police further said that statements recorded from individuals appearing in the video and the evidence collected so far did not substantiate the allegations. "Their statements and the evidence collected so far, prima facie, with regard to the allegations made or implied in the recording about any individuals mentioned in the video, is false and concocted," the statement said.
Investigators said the original mobile phone allegedly used to record the video had been traced, recovered and seized. It has been sent for forensic examination, with the report awaited. According to the police, the video was allegedly recorded in 2023 and purportedly concerned an incident dating back to 2011. Investigators are examining whether the recording was staged, fabricated or manipulated and are tracing its circulation before it appeared on social media in September-October 2026. The police also said the video was uploaded through anonymous accounts using VPNs, masked IP addresses and spoofed phone numbers. A mobile phone allegedly linked to the YouTube upload was traced to a shop dealing in used and refurbished devices in Delhi.
One person connected with the procurement of the device was arrested from the National Capital Region on October 24. Police said preliminary findings suggested that he worked as a freelance social media content creator and may have links with politically connected individuals in New Delhi. These associations are being investigated.
Alva had earlier appeared before the Central Crime Branch (CCB) on October 26, where she was questioned and her statement recorded. Police sources quoted by news agency ANI said she had also been questioned on previous occasions. Siddaramaiah had named Alva in connection with the alleged sting operation and obtained a court injunction restraining media organisations from airing or publishing the video. His son and minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah had also alleged the involvement of some Congress leaders. The investigation remains ongoing, with police examining the video's creation, ownership, circulation and the identities and possible motives of those involved.
