BENGALURU, 21 MARCH

In a dramatic session of the Karnataka Assembly on Friday, opposition parties, including the BJP and JD(S), demanded a judicial investigation led by a sitting High Court judge into allegations of a "honey trap" involving Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna and other politicians. The uproar came after Rajanna claimed that he was targeted in an attempt to blackmail him, asserting that at least 48 politicians from various parties had suffered similar schemes.

BJP and JD(S) members stormed into the well of the House, protesting with CDs in hand and shouting slogans, even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured them of a high-level probe.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responded to the uproar by asserting that there would be a thorough investigation, promising that no one would be shielded, regardless of their political rank. "We will ensure a high-level probe to identify those behind these attempts," he stated, expressing a commitment to protect all citizens.

However, the opposition pressed for clarity on the nature of the inquiry, suggesting that the involvement of a High Court judge or even the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was warranted due to the gravity of the allegations. “This is not just one party's issue; it represents a conspiracy against all legislators,” said BJP MLA R Ashoka, who reiterated the call for a judicial inquiry.

In response to the chaos, BJP Karnataka President BY Vijayendra emphasised that the government should take the matter seriously and insisted on an independent investigation, mentioning that initially, the Home Minister had expressed intent to probe the matter but later claimed he had not received a formal complaint. This discrepancy raised suspicions of a cover-up within the Congress-led government.

Moreover, another BJP MLA, Basanagouda Patil, formally requested that the Home Minister refer the case to the CBI for an impartial examination.

Siddaramaiah attempted to defuse tensions, assuring the assembly that the honour of the House would be preserved and that appropriate measures would be taken once Rajanna submitted a formal complaint.