6 days after ’honey trap’ row in Assembly, Rajanna cites ’work-related commitments’ for delay in filing complaint

Karnataka honey trap cases: Six days after the ‘honey trap’ incident was raised in the Vidhan Soudha, Karnataka minister Rajanna said, “I will file a complaint today (March 25) and submit it to the Home Minister because I had spoken about it in the Assembly and had said I would do so. Until today, I was unable to write the complaint due to various work-related commitments".

Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Tuesday that Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna is “yet to file a complaint” regarding the alleged attempt to honey trap him and other politicians, news agency PTI reported.

Stressing that an investigation will take place if a specific complaint is filed regarding the alleged tapping of political leaders' phones, including those from the opposition in the state, Parameshwara told reporters, “A complaint should be given. Upon its receipt, an investigation will be conducted. This will be my response regardless of how many times you ask.”

He added that Rajanna should be asked, rather than him, when questioned about why no complaint has been filed yet.

G Parameshwara on alleged involvement of his party leaders in honey trapping

“I don't know, ask him. There is no pressure on me in connection with the case. Once the complaint is given, investigation will begin....I have already announced a high level probe. The Chief Minister will decide on the nature and level of the probe, but there is a need for cause of action, so a complaint has to come,” he said.

What happened in the legislative assembly?

During the legislative assembly session, the opposition sought a judicial investigation by a sitting High Court judge. Parameshwara on Thursday directed a high-level probe into the alleged “honey trap” cases in the state, following the arrest of two women, aged 23 and 27, who allegedly honey-trapped a BJP leader in the Tumakuru district.

“If we have to save the dignity of our members, we have to put a brake on such incidents. It's a serious issue. I will order a high-level probe into it,” he had said, further mentioning, “I have noticed that Leader of Opposition R Ashoka has spoken about phone tapping, I have not come across any such thing. If any one gives a specific complaint, we will take it and it can be verified.”

Rajanna claimed approximately 48 people have been “honey trapped” and their obscene videos were made. “Today, I am going to file a complaint by meeting the Home Minister in person,” he said. Ashoka on Monday pointed finger at the Congress government of “tapping” the phones of state leaders, consisting of ministers and ruling party MLAs.

Honey trapping case in Supreme Court

The apex court on Monday acknowledged to hear a PIL asking for an independent investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the alleged honey trapping of legislators, public servants, and judges in Karnataka. Jharkhand resident, Binay Kumar Singh filed the plea through advocate Barun Sinha. The petition sought to track the investigation either by the Supreme Court or by a monitoring committee led by a retired Supreme Court judge.