Five days after alleging that he and 48 other politicians across party lines were targeted in a honey trap, Karnataka Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna formally submitted a petition to Home Minister G Parameshwara, requesting legal action against those involved. The explosive claims, made in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, have sparked significant political controversy.
Rajanna, clarifying his earlier statements, denied mentioning that judges were among the victims. In a formal petition, he detailed the alleged honeytrap attempt targeting him. According to Rajanna, the incident involved a woman, who claimed to be a lawyer, visiting his Bengaluru office twice with a man. He stated that while he could not recall her name, he would be able to identify her if she were brought before him. He also added that his residence lacked CCTV cameras, complicating the matter further.
However, Home Minister Parameshwara, who had earlier promised a high-level inquiry following Rajanna’s statement in the assembly, was evasive in his response on Tuesday. He cited procedural constraints, stating that Speaker UT Khader’s assistance was needed to proceed with any legal action. Parameshwara described Rajanna's petition as a “representation,” not a formal complaint, and emphasized that any further police action would require directives from the Speaker.
Speaker Khader responded by saying he was unaware of the Home Minister’s statement, but noted that if the points raised by Rajanna were considered part of the House’s proceedings, the assurance made by the Home Minister on the floor would also be bound by the House’s procedures. He promised to review the situation and discuss it further.
The controversy surrounding Rajanna’s complaint has put the ruling Congress party in a difficult position. Party functionaries are concerned about the potential fallout from an investigation. One minister expressed the dilemma, noting that while a thorough investigation could harm the party’s credibility, not initiating one could lead to further political fallout. With only Rajanna’s name publicly mentioned so far, the party fears that if the full list of alleged victims were revealed, it could escalate into a major scandal.
As the issue continues to unfold, political observers are watching closely to see how the Karnataka government handles the sensitive matter.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)