Karnataka HC Stays Probe Against Nirmala Sitharaman in Electoral Bonds Case

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In a significant legal development, the Karnataka High Court has granted an interim stay on the First Information Report (FIR) filed against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman concerning allegations of extortion through electoral bonds. This decision was announced on Monday and halts further investigation into the FIR, which also names former Karnataka BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel as a co-accused.

According to an ANI report, the stay on the investigation stems from an FIR that was filed against Sitharaman, officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and various BJP office-bearers at both state and national levels. The FIR was initiated based on the directives of a special court, which led to the complaint being lodged by Adarsh R. Iyer, Co-President of the ‘Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath’ (JSP).

The complaint alleges that the accused participated in a scheme that involved extorting money under the pretext of electoral bonds, claiming that they benefited to the tune of over ₹8,000 crore. The complaint further alleges that Sitharaman, with the covert assistance of ED officials, facilitated the extortion of thousands of crores for the advantage of various individuals and groups at both state and national levels. It states, “The entire extortion racket under the garb of electoral bonds has been orchestrated hand in glove with officials of BJP at various levels.”

In response to the allegations, the Congress party has called for Finance Minister Sitharaman’s resignation and has reiterated its demand for a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry through a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the entire electoral bond scheme. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stated, “Four ways were used to extort money through the conspiracy of electoral bonds – prepaid bribery, postpaid bribery, post-raid bribery, and through farzi companies.”

On the other hand, BJP MP Jagdish Shettar attributed the FIR against the Union Minister to the ruling Congress party in Karnataka. He noted, “The FIR has already been filed as per the direction of the judiciary. Before filing the FIR, the concerned police officers have to examine whether a prima facie case is there or not…There is no complaint filed by the aggrieved party.”

The court’s interim stay on the investigation has added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing controversy surrounding electoral bonds in India, as both political parties continue to navigate the implications of the case.

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