Mangaluru: A political controversy surrounding an alleged sting operation involving former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has brought Kripa Alva, a Congress spokesperson from Dakshina Kannada, into the spotlight. Alva appeared before the Crime Branch on Sunday for questioning in connection with the case.

The police issued her a notice following a complaint by Siddaramaiah, who alleged that unidentified persons had circulated a fabricated video containing malicious claims about him to blackmail and tarnish his reputation.

Alva, 60, previously headed the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights between 2015 and 2018, during Siddaramaiah’s first tenure as chief minister.

From personal tragedy to public life

Alva entered active politics after experiencing a personal tragedy. Her husband, Amar Alva, a prominent figure in Mangaluru, was shot dead in 1992 in a killing attributed to rivalry between two gangs.

Following his death, she established the Amar Alva Charitable Trust and became involved in social service initiatives. She later joined the Congress and sought a party ticket to contest an election from a constituency in Dakshina Kannada, but was unsuccessful.

Her work in child rights eventually led to her appointment as chairperson of the state commission, a position she held for three years.

How she came under scrutiny

Alva’s name emerged in connection with the controversy over a purported sting operation conducted in 2023. She is allegedly heard in the video alongside Rakesh Shetty, managing director of Kannada television channel Power TV.

Siddaramaiah has accused Alva and Shetty of involvement in the episode, which he maintains involved fabricated material intended to damage his reputation. The allegations remain subject to investigation.

The controversy has also triggered developments within the Congress. Karnataka minister and Siddaramaiah’s son, Yathindra, has alleged that a woman leader from the party orchestrated the sting operation in an attempt to secure a Congress ticket from Puttur in the next Assembly election.

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has issued Alva a show-cause notice seeking an explanation over the episode.

Court order restricts circulation of videos

The controversy took a legal turn on October 13, when a civil court in Bengaluru restrained media organisations and digital platforms from publishing or circulating the videos and related material. The court also directed that access to the content be blocked.

In his petition, Siddaramaiah argued that the footage and the manner in which it was presented threatened to cause serious and lasting damage to his reputation.

The episode has added to tensions within the Karnataka Congress, with allegations surrounding the purported sting operation raising questions about internal rivalries and the political interests behind the controversy.

As the Crime Branch investigation proceeds, Alva’s questioning and the competing allegations have placed the Mangaluru-based Congress leader at the centre of a politically sensitive case.