48 MLAs honey trapped, attempt to target me as well: Karnataka minister

Bengaluru: Karnataka minister KN Rajanna on Thursday said that an attempt was made to honey-trap him, further claiming that 48 politicians of the state including a minister were trapped in it, India Today reported.

The state cooperation minister told the Assembly pointing to reports that two ministers hailing from Tumakuru are ‘caught in a honey trap’.

‘Now, I am one of the ministers from Tumakuru, and the other is Dr Parameshwara – just the two of us,’ he was quoted as saying.

Those targeted were not only those from the ruling Congress but also politicians from the Opposition BJP.

Calling honey trapping a menace, he said the cases are ‘not restricted to only state leaders, but leaders from national parties are also victims.’

Honey trapping is about a woman establishing a romantic or sexual relationship with a person to exploit or coerce him for some deceitful motives.

Earlier BJP MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal told the Assembly that MLAs were being honey-trapped to make someone the Chief Minister.

Demanding a ‘thorough investigation’, Rajanna said he would lodge a complaint with the state’s home minister, Home Minister G Parameshwara.

G Parameshwara promised a high-level investigation, saying there had been an attempt to trap him as well.

BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar sought action on Wednesday, saying that the Congress government was running a ‘honey trap factory’.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also promised action saying ‘According to the law, the guilty should be punished’.

Just as the allegations of honey trapping emerged amid power struggles within the ruling party, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said ‘Let a complaint be given to the police station first, let’s get it investigated.’