Karnataka Minister Reveals 48 MLAs Including Ministers Targeted In Honey Trap Scams

Karnataka Minister KN Rajanna has revealed that 48 MLAs, including him, have been targeted in honey traps over the last 20 years.

Karnataka Minister KN Rajanna

Source : ANI

Karnataka Minister KN Rajanna, known to be close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, admitted that not just him but 48 MLAs have been targeted in a honey trap over the last 20 years. Speaking at the legislative assembly, Rajanna said that there is talk that a minister from Tumkuru has been a victim of a honey trap.

"There is a talk that a minister from Tumkuru has been a victim of honey trap. There are only two of us from Tumkuru, one is me and the other is the Home Minister," Rajanna said.

"This is not a new discussion,' he added.

"There are 48 members who are said to have been victims of this. Many of them have also taken a stay from the High Court. There are such people on both sides and now my name is also being taken. I appeal to the Home Minister to investigate this matter thoroughly. If needed, I am ready to file a complaint myself. At least we should know who is its director and who is the actor," he further added.

State Home Minister G Parameshwara said that a high-level probe will be held into the matter.

"There were two attempts (on a minister), but they weren't successful," Jarikholi said after the matter was raised in the state assembly yesterday by the former BJP minister V Sunil Kumar.

Jarkiholi said that this was not the first time that such an incident took place in Karnataka and every party—Congress, BJP, and JDS—is a victim, underscoring that politics should not involve such tactics.

"In the earlier governments too, there were victims of honey trapping. Some names were heard. Now our people's (Congress) names are heard, if it happens in the future too, it won't be surprising. This must end," he added.

According to news agency PTI, BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar echoed the concern, saying those who could not defeat their opponents have resorted to blackmailing to achieve their political goals.

He urged the government to take the matter seriously after a minister claimed that 48 people have been honey trapped.

“The situation is grim when a minister makes such a statement. We will conclude that the government is involved if it did not take action and give a proper reply on it,” Kumar said.

In the day, Minister Satish Jarkiholi claimed that two unsuccessful honey trap attempts were made on a senior minister in the state and called for a police investigation into the matter.

According to NDTV, quoting reports, two women were arrested for honey trapping a BJP leader in the Tumakuru district. BJP leader Annappa Swamy alleged that a woman had befriended him on Facebook, and later he was blackmailed with their intimate videos.