‘Man visited my home twice with women’: Rajanna files ‘honey trap’ bid probe plea

Earlier in the day, Rajanna said a man had visited his Bengaluru residence twice, each time with a different woman. “During the second visit, he introduced a woman as a high court lawyer,” he said.

Rajanna said that in his letter to Parameshwara he has detailed the entire incident and explained the reasons for delay in filing the complaint. “(Investigators) have to find out whether the two were doing it on their own or whether someone was behind them,” he said, adding that he would be able to recognise the person who allegedly tried to honey trap him if that person was produced before him.

Last week, the minister’s allegation that 48 legislators from both the ruling and Opposition parties in Karnataka were honey-trapped fomented a political firestorm. In the Assembly, Parameshwara had assured that a high-level probe would be ordered.

On Tuesday, Rajanna said that Parameshwara had collected information about alleged honeytrap attempts from the police. He said that the home minister, after consulting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, “will decide whether to institute a probe by a SIT or it will be conducted by a DG-IGP level official”.

The minister, however, refused to comment on evidence against those involved in alleged honey trapping and said that before the investigation concludes, saying anything amounts to speculation. “I expect such activities to stop. It should not be done against anyone,” he said.

Confirming that he has received a complaint from his Cabinet colleague, Parameshwara told reporters that the next steps will be discussed with legal experts but refused to divulge the contents of the complaint. He said Rajanna had filed a petition with the Home Department as the honey trap allegation was raised in the Assembly.

Asked why the Home Department did not file a suo motu complaint after Rajanna raised the issue in the Assembly, Parameshwara said it could not be done unless the Speaker directed the government to take up the issue.