Honeytrap scandal in Maharashtra: Over 70 senior officials allegedly targeted
opposition demands probe
Mumbai: A massive honeytrap scandal has reportedly rocked Maharashtra, with allegations that between 72 to 75 senior government officials, including bureaucrats, police officers, and politicians, have been ensnared in an elaborate extortion scheme. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has demanded a high-level investigation into the matter, citing potential risks to national security and administrative integrity.
Raising the issue in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, senior Congress leader and former Speaker Nana Patole urged the government to act swiftly. “This is a serious matter. If confidential documents fall into the hands of anti-national elements due to this honeytrap, it would be a grave lapse,” he warned. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar directed the government to take note of the issue.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) spokesperson Mahesh Tapase echoed the concern, claiming the network of honeytraps extends across key urban centers like Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and Nashik. He alleged that the victims include high-ranking government officials and politicians, raising "serious questions about the vulnerability of our governance apparatus.”
Tapase asked: “Why is the government silent on the media reports? How did this operation manage to target so many high-profile individuals without early detection? Why did intelligence agencies fail to act? What measures are being taken to prevent such incidents in the future?”
According to Tapase, the alleged mastermind behind the racket is from Nashik and is reportedly a former office-bearer of a political party. He detailed a modus operandi involving women posing as distressed individuals who gradually gained the trust of officials, then secretly recorded compromising photos and videos, using them to extort victims with threats of false rape charges.
Social activist Vijay Kumbhar added that many of the alleged incidents occurred in a luxury hotel in Nashik. “One woman has already lodged a complaint at the Mumbai Naka Police Station,” he said, questioning the silence of the Chief Minister and the inaction of the State Intelligence Department.
“If this is true, it’s disgraceful. If it’s false, why is no action being taken against those spreading misinformation? Either way, the government’s silence reeks of rot,” Kumbhar stated.
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MYAS launches quiz on national flag, 25 top-scorers to get trip to Siachen with Mandaviya
New Delhi, Aug 7 (PTI): The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has launched an online quiz on the national flag and 25 top-scoring participants in the age bracket of 21 to 29 will get an opportunity to visit Siachen with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The quiz, according to the ministry, will "foster patriotism and enhance awareness about the Indian National Flag."
"This online quiz, hosted on the MYBharat portal (mybharat.gov.in), invites all citizen to participate and test their knowledge about the Tricolour," the ministry stated.
It will consist of multiple-choice questions and all contestants will be awarded an e-certificate.
"As a grand incentive, 25 top-scoring participants will be selected for a remarkable opportunity to visit Siachen in the company of the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya," the ministry said.
"The selection of winners for the Siachen visit will be limited to youth between the ages of 21 and 29. The final selection of the 25 winners will be conducted through a computer-based lottery system from the pool of top scorers," it added.
