SC agrees to list on March 25 a plea to direct CBI probe Karnataka ‘honey-trapping’ allegations

Chief Justice of India agrees to urgently list petition seeking CBI probe into honey-trapping scandal in Karnataka.

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Monday agreed to urgently list on March 25 a petition seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into allegations by Karnataka Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna that he and 48 others, including legislators, Central leaders, and judges, had become victims of organised honey-trapping.

The allegations were made by the Minister on the floor of the State Legislative Assembly, triggering a political storm in the State.

The petition filed by a Jharkhand resident, Binay Kumar Singh, was orally mentioned before the Bench of the Chief Justice of India for early hearing.

Mr. Singh said the investigation must be conducted by an independent agency like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team comprising police officers of integrity and “who are not subject to control or influence of the State of Karnataka”. Those behind the alleged scandal must be prosecuted without fail.

He said the probe should be monitored by a committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.

“The monitoring committee should also inquire into the role played by all authorities/persons who directly/indirectly benefitted from the incident,” the petition said.

“Very serious and troubling allegations have been made on the floor of the Karnataka State legislature i.e. Vidhan Soudha that a person aspiring to be the Chief Minister of the State has been successful in honey trapping several persons, amongst whom are judges. The allegations have been made by a sitting minister who has claimed himself to be a victim, thereby lending credibility to the serious allegations,” Mr. Singh submitted in his petition.