Cooperation Minister K. N. Rajanna made allegations of attempts to honey-trap him, in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, in Bengaluru on March 20, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K

Though Congress MLC Rajendra Rajanna said he would complain to Director General and Inspector General of Police of Karnataka, his father and Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna is yet to decide on the controversial issue.

“Currently I am busy with official work since the financial year is drawing to a close. I am focusing on my district and Kolar,” the Minister told reporters in Tumakuru on March 23. He said that he would think of registering a complaint once he reaches Bengaluru after completing his official engagements over the next few days.

However, his son Rajendra Rajanna said that during his meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on March 22 evening, he was told to lodge a complaint with the Director General and Inspector General of Police. “Tomorrow is my birthday. After that, I will seek legal advice and will complain to the DG &IG. I told the Chief Minister that I will abide by his advice whether to wait or to lodge a complaint. He advised me to lodge a complaint with the DG & IG.”

Home Minister G. Parameshwara told reporters in Bengaluru that the police had made preliminary preparations to start the high-level probe, but Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna is yet to lodge a complaint. He is in favour of Mr. Rajanna filing a complaint at the earliest.

“We cannot keep quiet after the uproar in the Assembly on the honey-trap allegations. A final decision will be taken after discussing with the Chief Minister,” the Home Minister said.

Congress sources said that the development could further embarrass the party. 

“He (Mr. Rajanna) seems to be in a Catch 22 situation. By now, he should have registered a complaint. He is likely to get embarrassed either way. If he complains now and the inquiry reveals otherwise, he will be embarrassed. If his allegations are found to be true, then also he will be embarrassed. Those inside the party have objected to him making the allegation on the floor of the House,” a source told The Hindu.

Multiple occasions

Rajendra Rajanna said that the honey-trap attempts have been made both on him as well as his father — Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna — on multiple occasions. “We know that honey trapping efforts were made on my father in Madhugiri and at his official residence in Bengaluru. Two to three attempts have been made on him. He has become aware after being informed about such efforts. They have not been successful,” the MLC told a private TV channel in Tumakuru on March 23.

He also said that though honey trapping efforts happened on both, it was restricted to mobile phone in his case. “I am a little careful about mobile phone usage. The honey trapping attempt was restricted to phone calls, video calls and text messages.” He said that videos of public representatives were being digitally altered to suit the needs of people with vested interests.

Mr. Rajendra said that they are not aware about the identity of those involved and do not know whom to suspect. “We did not get anything much in Madhugiri and the official residence does not have CCTV cameras.”