BENGALURU: Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Thursday announced in the Assembly that he will order a high-level probe into the alleged honey trap attempt on Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna.
Replying to reporters’ queries, Rajanna admitted that he was subjected to a honey trap attempt. He sought a probe by a panel headed by a retired High Court judge. “I will not shy away from revealing the fact that a honey trap attempt was done on me. I am not Sathya Harishchandra or Sri Ramachandra to hide it,” he asserted.
Earlier, replying to BJP’s demand for a probe into the incident, which has created ripples in political circles, Parameshwara clarified that after Rajanna files a complaint, action will be taken. “(BJP MLA) Basanagouda Patil Yatnal raised the issue, legislators Sunil Kumar and Muniratna spoke. Since it is a question of the dignity of every member of the House, we should put an end to it. I will order a high-level investigation into the incident,” he stated.
Earlier, raising the issue, Yatnal regretted that honey traps involving people’s representatives, including ministers, have become common in Karnataka. “An attempt was made on Rajanna, and it amounts to blackmailing people’s representatives. I urge the Home Minister to take action in the interest of all legislators... A leader who is longing to become CM has done (honey trap) attempt on Rajanna, and it could someone else next,” he said.
Rajanna stood up to insist the Home Minister order a probe. “Yatnal took my name and I should reveal the facts. There are 48 leaders, irrespective of party affiliation, who were subjected to honey trapping, and they brought a stay order on broadcasting it in the media. It is not restricted to Karnataka leaders, there are cases of central leaders getting trapped too,” he said.
He said those behind the honey trap attempt should be exposed. Blackmailing leaders by terrorising them with sleazy CDs and pen drives has become a menace, he said.
Rajanna expressed his sympathies for former minister HD Revanna as his family (including his son and former MP Prajwal Revanna) too was allegedly being blackmailed. Rajarajeshwari Nagar MLA Munirantna also alleged that he was implicated in a false rape case.
“They (political rivals) are destroying the lives of Ramesh Jarkiholi, HD Revanna and have tried to spoil my life,” an emotional Muniratna alleged.
Earlier, senior BJP leader Sunil Kumar said he condemns the honey trapping of leaders. “Political clashes should happen over ideology and developmental issues. Who is the influential minister behind the honey trap attempt on Rajanna?” he questioned.
When the debate happened in the assembly, both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar were not present. Siddaramaiah was in his office at the lounge, discussing the honeytrap case and other issues with minister Byrathi Suresh.
Interestingly, the CM’s reply on the budget debate, scheduled for Thursday, was postponed to Friday morning. Rajanna met the CM at his residence earlier to discuss the issue, and got his consent to speak on it as his name was doing the rounds, sources said.