PIL moved in Supreme Court seeking CBI probe over Karnataka honey trapping row

Supreme Court likely to hear the matter on Tuesday. At least 48 individuals including ministers and judicial officers were targeted by the racket. Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar said he has asked Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna to lodge a complaint

Karnataka assembly (File) BJP MLAs being evicted by Marshals during the budget session of the Karnataka Assembly | PTI

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a fresh and independent probe by a central agency over the alleged honey-trapping row in Karnataka. At least 48 individuals including ministers, political leaders and judicial officers were allegedly targeted by the racket.

A public interest litigation has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking an independent probe over alleged honey-trapping of Karnataka ministers, leaders and judicial officers. The petition was moved before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and the petitioner sought an urgent hearing of the matter. The chief justice said the matter will be listed on Tuesday, Bar and Bench reported.

Recently, Karnataka’s Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna said at least 48 MLAs, including leaders from various parties, had been honeytrapped and that the network was spread across the country. Rajanna alleged even Union ministers were targeted by the racket. Karnataka Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi also demanded a police probe into the matter. Home Minster G. Parameshwara said a high-level probe into the “honey trap” charges. “If we have to save the dignity of our members, we have to put a brake on such incidents. It's a serious issue. I will order a high-level probe into it," the home minister had said.

On Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar refused to comment on the issue and said he had asked the minister to lodge a complaint. 

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