The Karnataka Assembly witnessed a great political stir on Thursday with charges of a honey-trap scandal linking a senior minister and 48 others, such as legislators, politicians, and judges. The issue gained a deeper connotation when allegations broke out that the honey trap was planned by a top Congress leader vying for the Chief Minister’s throne.
The issue gained traction when Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna openly admitted to being a honey-trap victim, sparking heated debates in the House.
“This is a serious issue. To protect the dignity of our members, we must put a stop to such incidents. I will order a high-level probe based on a written complaint from Rajanna,” said Home Minister G. Parameshwara.
Rajanna further alleged that the honey-trap network had ensnared 48 individuals, including central leaders and members of the judiciary, and that explicit videos had been created to blackmail them. He pointed to an incident involving a minister from Tumakuru district, a category that includes himself and Parameshwara, adding that CDs and pen drives containing compromising material were in circulation.
The BJP, seizing on the scandal, accused the Congress government of running a “honey-trap factory” and demanded a thorough investigation. Former minister V. Sunil Kumar first raised the issue on Wednesday, followed by senior BJP legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who alleged that the scandal was an attempt by a senior Congress leader to malign political rivals ahead of a leadership tussle. “Certain individuals with ambitions for the CM’s post are indulging in these activities to target their opponents,” Yatnal claimed, without naming anyone.
Amid the allegations, BJP MLA Munirathna, facing a sexual harassment complaint, claimed he too was a victim of political vendetta. “I have young grandchildren. Imagine how they will feel at school after hearing such accusations,” he lamented. He demanded a CBI probe, asserting, “Punish me if I am guilty, but do not resort to character assassination.”
BJP state president B.Y. Vijayendra argued that neither judges nor the SIT could fairly investigate the matter, urging Rajanna to reveal the mastermind behind the alleged honey traps. Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, whose brother Ramesh Jarkiholi was embroiled in a similar scandal in 2021, disclosed that two failed attempts had been made to trap a senior minister.
Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar emphasized the need for legal action. “A complaint must be filed, and a thorough investigation should follow to bring the culprits to justice,” he stated.
