Honey Trap Allegations Rock Karnataka, Here’s What Makes Political Chronology Interesting

Last Updated:March 21, 2025, 00:10 IST

Senior Congress leader KN Rajanna alleged a honey trap attempt during the Karnataka Assembly session. BJP MLA Yatnal called for an investigation. A high-level probe is assured.

Karnataka Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna. (File photo/PTI)

The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday was rocked by serious allegations made by senior Congress leader and cabinet minister KN Rajanna, who claimed to have been targeted in a honey trap attempt.

The accusations came during the budget session when BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal alleged that someone was trying to trap State Cooperation Minister Rajanna in a honey trap.

In the past two days, News18 Kannada had exclusively reported on the honey trap attempt on the senior minister from Tumkuru, although the name of the minister was withheld due to the sensitivity of the issue. However, during a media interaction, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi confirmed the allegations.

“It’s true that someone is trying attempted honey trap on Minister KN Rajanna and I have suggested him to bring it to Home Minister notice for further action,” Jarkiholi said.

The case took a interesting turn when Yatnal raised the issue during the session. Yatnal named Rajanna specifically and called for an investigation into the matter, requesting Speaker UT Khader’s intervention. “Karnataka is good cultured developed state. But, according to few media reports honey trap on cooperative minister attempted. I request home minister and Chief minister to investigate the matter,” the BJP MLA stated.

Shocking Revelations By Rajanna

Following Yatnal’s remarks, Rajanna took the floor to give a detailed response, revealing some shocking information about the honey trap industry. He said, “Karnataka has become a factory for pen drives and CDs. I’m not the only one saying this; people are murmuring about it. I’ve been informed that 48 people have been affected by this.”

“There are many leaders who have brought stay order from court to not publish it. Those guys are sitting this side and that side also,” he stated, referring to leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties.

Rajanna further claimed that this issue extended beyond the state level. “This is not limited to our state alone. This includes pen drives of many national-level party leaders. In this regard I request to the Home Minister that, I will file a written complaint. Based on that complaint, he should get an investigation done.”

Calls For Transparency

Rajanna demanded a deeper investigation and urged the authorities to reveal the names of those involved in the honey trap operations. “Who are the producers? Who are the directors? Let all this come out in public. Who are the actors? Let everyone know,” he stated.

The senior Congress leader also mentioned that there were 48 pen drives in total, revealing, “Not only at the state level but also at the national level, there are leaders of all the parties. This is a plague. Everyone in the public arena should be respected. In that regard, I am urging the Home Minister, I will file a written complaint, and on that basis, he should get an investigation done.”

Rajanna further expressed his empathy towards the family of HD Revanna, stating, “It’s a shame that Revanna’s family have all come under attack. Now I have evidence that they have attempted to honey trap me too. In this regard, I demand that the Home Minister conduct a special investigation and reveal all the details of who they are.”

State Home Minister Assures High-Level Probe

Both ruling and opposition party members showed their support for Rajanna and called for an investigation. In response, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar assured the assembly that a high-level investigation would be carried out once Rajanna files a written complaint.

He stated, “We have to put full stop to it. Karnataka legislature have great respect in the country. Even My father was a member of upper house. Many great personalities had been members of this house. They have given great contribution. To keep pride of the house we have to finish this menace. Now Rajanna said that he will give written complaint. Once we receive the complaint, I will order for the high-level investigation.”

Rajanna’s Son Also Allegedly Targeted

Meanwhile, Rajanna’s son, Rajendra, who is a Member of the Legislative Council, spoke exclusively to News18 about his own experiences with honey trap attempts. “It’s not just my father, even there are numerous attempts happening to trap me. In the last 6 months some trying to honey trap me. I am getting messages, video calls continuously. I will also give complaint,” he stated.

“I don’t know whether our party people or opposition people doing it. But whats happening is not good for the politics. Thorough investigation should be done” Rajendra added.

Why Chronology Matters?

According to sources, the honey trap allegations made by the minister and his son seem credible, but the timing of Rajanna’s decision to bring the issue to light during the session raises suspicions.

As many sense that all is not well within the ruling party in the state, these developments have only strengthened suspicions of an ongoing power struggle. Rajanna is known to be a staunch supporter of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Recently, he also faced corruption charges in the MUDA case.

Another interesting aspect is that, even before Rajanna spoke in the session, Siddaramaiah supporter and influential minister Satish Jarkiholi had already spoken about the honey trap case and suggested that Rajanna file a complaint.

Interestingly, during the previous BJP government, Satish Jarkiholi’s brother, Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was a minister at the time, also resigned following allegations of a honey trap and sexual assault case.

Even in the house, Rajanna did not raise the issue voluntarily. As the discussion on the budget was underway, BJP MLA Yatnal brought up the matter at the end of his speech. Currently, in Karnataka, rebel MLA Yatnal often receives support from Ramesh Jarkiholi.

Is There A Political Agenda?

The public disclosure of the honey trap issue has raised several questions: Who is the enemy? Or rather, who is the common enemy? Who is behind the honey trap? What do they stand to gain? Why target Rajanna? And why did he bring this issue to public attention in the session, especially in the absence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah?

In the last decade, Karnataka politics has been marred by corruption charges, sex scandals, Operation Kamala, Operation Hasta, and more. However, honey trapping for political gain marks a new low. The people of Karnataka are calling for an end to this. Now is the time for action.

Even as State Home Minister Dr G Parameshwar promised a high-level investigation, the question remains: Will the truth come out? Will the culprits face the punishment they deserve? The entire state of Karnataka is waiting for the outcome.

ALSO READ: Karnataka Minister Alleges 48 MLAs ‘Honey-Trapped’, Probe Ordered

Location :

Karnataka, India, India