Bengaluru: Expelled Congress leader Kripa Alva appeared before the Cyber Crime Police, functioning under the Central Crime Branch (CCB), in Bengaluru on Monday in connection with the investigation into an alleged fabricated sting video targeting former chief minister Siddaramaiah.

Kripa, who hails from Dakshina Kannada, arrived at the Bengaluru Police Commissioner’s office on Infantry Road along with her legal counsel to appear before the investigating officials. She left the premises without responding to questions from waiting reporters.

This is not the first time Kripa has been questioned in connection with the case. She had earlier appeared before the police and has also obtained interim relief from the court.

The controversy has triggered considerable political debate across Karnataka, with Siddaramaiah and his son, MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah, publicly commenting on the alleged sting operation.

Siddaramaiah had earlier accused Kripa and Rakesh Shetty, managing director of Power TV, of being behind the alleged sting operation. Speaking in Mysuru, he termed the video fabricated and alleged that it was intended to blackmail him.

“Shetty has confessed to the police that he has done it. There is no truth in the allegation. It is done to blackmail me. It is totally concocted. Truth has to come out. People should know that the allegation is not true. Hence, I have lodged the complaint,” Siddaramaiah had said.

Meanwhile, the police investigation has reportedly uncovered details about the movement of the mobile phone allegedly used to upload the video. Investigators found that the device had changed hands at Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s official residence in New Delhi.

As part of the probe, police questioned former journalist Prajwal Prasad, who is alleged to be associated with Kumaraswamy’s social media team as a media consultant. According to the investigation, Prasad allegedly facilitated the purchase of the mobile phone and received it at Kumaraswamy’s official residence from Ritesh Pandey, another accused arrested in the case.

The investigation is continuing to establish the sequence of events surrounding the creation and circulation of the controversial video.