Karnataka minister Rajanna to file complaint over alleged honeytrap attempt

NEW DELHI: Karnataka cooperation minister

K N Rajanna

announced to Tuesday that he would meet home minister

G Parameshwara

to file a complaint regarding an alleged attempt to "honeytrap" him. He specified the need for strict action against those involved in or supporting such acts.
The decision came hours after Parameshwara told reporters in Bengaluru that Rajanna had yet to file a complaint on the matter.
"I will file a complaint today 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," Rajanna said.
Speaking to reporters, he added, "I have personally written the complaint and will submit it to the Home Minister today. I'm getting it typed... I will go wherever the home minister is and hand it over. I have detailed everything that happened in a three-page complaint."

Initially dismissing the issue as a common occurrence, Rajanna said he took it seriously after his name was mentioned in the Assembly.
"I have not installed

CCTV cameras

in my Bengaluru house. If they were there, we could have identified who came and went," he said.
He mentioned that the individuals involved were strangers and stressed the need to investigate whether they acted alone or had backing.
Among those who allegedly attempted to "honeytrap" him, Rajanna said the same man appeared both times, but the woman accompanying him was different on each occasion.
"The woman who came the second time claimed to be a high court lawyer. However, she was not wearing a lawyer's coat but was dressed in jeans and a blue top. They approached me, stating they had something important and confidential to discuss. I can recognise them if I see their photos," he said.
Last Thursday, Rajanna had informed the Assembly that honeytrap attempts were made on him and that at least 48 politicians across parties had fallen victim to such schemes.
The revelation sparked a stir in the Assembly, prompting the home minister to announce a high-level probe while the opposition demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting high court judge.
Reacting to a

Public Interest Litigation

(PIL) filed in the Supreme Court, Rajanna dismissed claims that he had mentioned judges in his statements.
"Have I said anything about judges? I haven't. I only said that such attempts have been made on political leaders from all parties by their opponents to settle political scores. I never mentioned judges. Yet, someone has filed a PIL claiming that I did and that the case should be handed over to the CBI," he said, calling the petition misleading and based on "false information."
Asked about his travel plans, Rajanna said he would visit Delhi after March 30.
When questioned about informing the Congress high command, he replied, "The matter has already reached the high command. They have not asked me anything personally, so I haven't spoken to them. However, they have gathered information on their own and have spoken to the chief minister about it."
Addressing concerns about discussing the issue in the Assembly, Rajanna admitted he should have brought it up within the cabinet or party first but felt compelled to speak after BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal mentioned his name while referring to alleged "honey trapping" attempts.