Will not speak on it: DK Shivakumar on claims of honeytrap attempts on Karnataka politicians
Bengaluru, Mar 23 (PTI): Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday said he would not speak on claims that Karnataka ministers and MLAs were targeted by honeytrap rackets, seeking to distance himself from an issue that has snowballed into a huge controversy.
During Thursday's sitting of the assembly, Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna claimed that at least 48 MLAs, cutting across party lines, had been honeytrapped and that the network was spread across the country, with many Union ministers also caught in it.
Shivakumar said that, as the Congress' Karnataka unit chief, he spoke to Rajanna and asked him to lodge a complaint.
"I can't explain what he told me. I asked him to lodge a complaint," the deputy chief minister said.
Amid rumours that Rajanna and Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi were planning to visit Delhi to apprise the party high command about the honeytrap racket active in the state, Rajanna's son Rajendra met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
When reporters asked Shivakumar the reason behind the meeting, he said, "Anyone can meet anyone. Many MPs, MLAs and even people meet the chief minister and me."
He then said he would not reply on the honeytrap issue.
"Don't ask me about that. I will not reply to anything concerning that issue," Shivakumar said.
Asked if he was travelling to Delhi to discuss the latest developments with the party high command, the veteran leader said he did not need to meet anyone about such false news.
To a question whether it was embarrassing for the Congress and the government for the honeytrap issue to be raised in the assembly, Shivakumar said, "Ask the chief minister about this."
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Rajanna's petition on honey trapping will be examined within framework of law, says G Parameshwara
Gokarna (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said that the government will examine Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna's petition on alleged attempts to "honeytrap" him, judiciously within the framework of law and take necessary action.
Rajanna on Tuesday had submitted a petition to Parameshwara seeking a probe and necessary action on an alleged attempt to "honeytrap" him.
"He (Rajanna) has given me a petition, we (govt) will examine it within the framework of law and take further action," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "What he (Rajanna) has given me is a petition. Complaint cannot be given to me as I'm not a police station. We will examine the petition judiciously within the framework of law and take action."
The Home Minister on Tuesday had said that the government will decide on the further course of action and the nature of the probe in connection with the case, after consulting with the legal team and after discussing with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
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 acts.
The issue created 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.
