New Delhi, Mar 24 (Reporter) The Supreme Court is set to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition seeking a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged honey-trap scandal in Karnataka. The case involves a senior minister and 48 others, including legislators, political leaders, and judges. The petition, filed by Jharkhand-based advocate Binay Kumar Singh, was mentioned before Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, who directed that it be listed for hearing tomorrow. The controversy erupted after Karnataka’s Minister for Cooperation, KN Rajanna, raised allegations of a honey-trap operation in the State Assembly on March 20. He claimed to have been a target of such an attempt and alleged that a gang had similarly targeted 47 others, including members across party lines and judges. The revelation triggered a political storm, leading to demands for an investigation. The issue also sparked protests in the Assembly, resulting in the suspension of 18 BJP MLAs. The petition highlights the grave implications of judicial officers being compromised through honey-trap operations. It warns that such coercion poses a serious threat to judicial independence and could severely undermine public confidence in the institution. "An independent judiciary is the cornerstone of any democracy. Judges must uphold the law without fear, favour, or external influence. If allegations of judges being honey-trapped hold any truth, it raises alarming concerns about the erosion of judicial independence, which, in turn, threatens the very fabric of democracy," the plea states. The petitioner further argues that if judges fall victim to blackmail, their ability to deliver impartial verdicts could be compromised, leading to judgments that serve the interests of their manipulators rather than the rule of law. "A judiciary tainted by external influence ceases to be a check on the executive and legislative overreach. If judges are susceptible to blackmail, the courts may no longer serve as the bulwark against authoritarianism, corruption, or corporate greed," the petition contends. The Supreme Court will now decide whether to order a CBI-led probe into the matter...////...