‘Political nonsense’: SC bins PIL on ‘honeytrap’ claims

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court dismissed Wednesday a PIL seeking probe into alleged honeytrap operations in Karnataka, calling it “political nonsense”. A three-judge bench rejected the petition filed by activist Binay Singh, a Jharkhand resident. Singh had sought a court-monitored investigation or a probe led by a retired SC judge. The top court questioned the relevance of the plea, asking: “You are a resident of Jharkhand. Why are you bothered about what’s happening in that state? They are competent enough to take care of this.” The petitioner’s counsel, Barun Kumar Sinha, argued that the allegations were serious and posed a threat to

judicial independence

. “We are concerned about the independence of the judiciary,” the counsel said. Sinha argued that media reports on the matter merited a thorough probe. But SC was unconvinced. “Why should they fall into a honeytrap? If someone sets up a honeytrap and you fall into it, you are inviting trouble for yourself,” it observed, adding that the judiciary had concerns more pressing than political disputes.

Cooperation minister KN Rajanna

had claimed on March 20 that there had been attempts to “honeytrap” him and that at least 48 politicians across parties had fallen prey to similar schemes. “People say that there is a CD (compact disc) and pen drive factory in Karnataka. I have learnt that there are CDs and pen drives of 48 people. This network is spread across India and several Union ministers too were trapped,” Rajanna had said.