Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 29: The police have launched an investigation into an alleged plot to assassinate Rajendra Rajanna, MLC and son of minister for cooperation K N Rajanna. FIRs have been registered against five individuals in connection with the case.
MLC Rajendra, in his complaint, claimed that powerful political figures in Bengaluru harboured resentment against his father due to his unwavering support for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He alleged that these individuals were conspiring to eliminate him politically.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has begun probing a honey trap attempt involving minister Rajanna. Political insiders suggest that internal rivalries within the Congress party may be fuelling these developments.
BJP MLA N Munirathna has openly accused deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar of orchestrating the honey trap attempt, a claim that Shivakumar has strongly refuted.
The controversy comes amid growing tensions within the state Congress. Minister Rajanna had recently met with the party’s high command in New Delhi, reportedly pushing for the removal of Shivakumar as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief. He had also publicly stated his willingness to step down as minister to assume the KPCC leadership.
Adding to the intrigue, minister Rajanna has been vocal about appointing more deputy chief ministers and advocating for a Dalit chief minister in Karnataka. Minister for PWD Satish Jarkiholi, commenting on the honey trap case, hinted that internal party members might be involved.
The FIR filed by MLC Rajendra has heightened political tensions. The Kyatsandra police in Tumakuru have booked five suspects—Soma, Bharat, Amit, Gunda, and Yatish—under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including conspiracy and attempted murder. Soma, one of the accused, has a known criminal record.
According to Rajendra’s complaint, the accused were allegedly offered Rs 70 lac to carry out the murder, with Rs 5 lac paid in advance. They had been tracking his movements in Madhugiri, Tumakuru, and Bengaluru and had planned to attack him just a day before his daughter’s birthday. The conspiracy was reportedly hatched in a shed near Shira Gate, with the suspects posing as workers. Rajendra has also provided police with an audio recording as evidence.
Minister Jarkiholi, when questioned about the possible involvement of a senior leader, remarked, “Let the police investigation uncover the truth. We cannot speculate. Similar incidents have occurred in other states as well.”
With the investigation gaining momentum, sources suggest that the unfolding developments could have significant political ramifications in Karnataka.