Honey-trap case: Court bins SIT’s closure report, orders further probe against BJP MLA

Bengaluru: A special court for elected representatives in the city has rejected the ‘B report' filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the honey-trap and murder conspiracy case allegedly involving BJP MLA Muniratna Naidu and others. The court has directed the agency to conduct further investigation.The case dates back to Nov 2024, when JD(S) functionary M Narayanaswamy from Laggere in Nandini Layout lodged a criminal complaint against Muniratna Naidu and others, including three women. He alleged that they had hatched a conspiracy to frame him and his wife, Manjula, in honey-trap cases and were also plotting to murder them.
The case was subsequently transferred to the Special Investigation Team of the CID, which had been constituted to probe cases registered against Muniratna Naidu and his associates. However, on April 28, 2025, the SIT filed a closure report (B report), stating that no evidence was found to substantiate the allegations made in the complaint.Following this, Narayanaswamy approached the special court and filed a protest petition. Counsel for Narayanaswamy, CH Hanumantaraya, told TOI that they are now seeking a fair investigation into the matter."The special court observed that the investigating agency (SIT-CID) did not conduct a proper and complete investigation. As such, it appears that the reason stated by the investigating officer for filing the B report is not correct and cannot be accepted. The court deems it just and proper to refer the matter for further investigation," he said.He pointed out that the B report was filed within a fortnight after the court rejected the anticipatory bail petition filed by Naidu and others."In light of the contentions raised in the protest petition and upon examining the materials collected by the investigating officer, it is evident that the IO concluded that the evidence gathered was insufficient to file a chargesheet against the accused. However, references to earlier incidents appear to have been made only to demonstrate the accused's alleged long-standing political grudge against him and his wife. Instead of appreciating this context, the IO seems to have focused extensively on those incidents rather than conducting a thorough and detailed investigation into the core allegation of honey trapping," special judge Shivakumar observed. The court has posted the matter to March 30.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !