Investigative Probe Sought under a RTD Judge for Accusations of Honey Trap Involvement against the Minister
Minister K.N. Rajanna Addresses Honey Trapping Allegations in Karnataka
Minister of Cooperation K.N. Rajanna addressed reporters in Vidhana Soudha, clarifying his name on the floor of the Assembly in response to a reference made by BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal. The Minister did not express any concerns about attempts to tarnish his image in this paragraph.
Rajanna reiterated his earlier claims that approximately 48 persons, including leaders of central leadership, have video recordings containing obscene scenes. However, he stated that he is not Harsichchandra or Sri Ramachandra, implying he did not fall prey to the honey trapping attempt. Rajanna sought a probe by a retired judge into the alleged honey trapping against him and urged Minister of Home Dr G. Parameshwar to put an end to blackmailing through honey trapping.
The Minister mentioned that the exposure of obscene videos has started with former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi and former Hassan Lok Sabha member Prajwal Revanna. Some leaders have obtained stays from the Courts to prevent media from telecasting such videos. Rajanna expressed his concerns about attempts to tarnish his image through honey trapping.
However, no new information was provided about the individuals involved in the honey trapping attempt or any probe sought by the Minister. The Minister did not specify if any other political parties, aside from central leadership, are involved in the video recordings. The controversy aggravated intra-party conflicts and public scrutiny, culminating in Rajanna being dismissed from his ministerial post amid ongoing party tensions and criticisms regarding his public statements and internal politics.
Investigations by the Karnataka CID found no substantial evidence supporting Rajanna’s claims. Despite this lack of evidence, the controversy contributed to significant political fallout for Rajanna. The Minister stated that the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has no meaning.
The key points are:
- K.N. Rajanna publicly accused multiple politicians of honey trapping, including himself, sparking a media and political storm.
- Official investigations have not validated these claims, and the matter remains politically sensitive with significant consequences for Rajanna himself but no confirmed evidence against others.
- Rajanna expressed concerns about attempts to tarnish his image through honey trapping and sought a probe by a retired judge into the alleged honey trapping against him.
- The Minister revealed that approximately 48 persons, including leaders of central leadership, have video recordings containing obscene scenes, but no further information was provided about the individuals involved or the alleged honey trapping incident.
- The controversy aggravated intra-party conflicts and public scrutiny, culminating in Rajanna being dismissed from his ministerial post amid ongoing party tensions and criticisms regarding his public statements and internal politics.
- The Minister's call for a probe by a retired judge into the alleged honey trapping incident points towards a political attempt to clear his name in the general-news sphere of politics.
- Despite Rajanna's claims of video recordings containing obscene scenes involving 48 persons, including leaders, in the realm of crime-and-justice, the lack of substantial evidence has contributed to the ongoing controversy.
