The Karnataka High Court Today (Dec 3) quashed a criminal case registered against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders including Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP’s JP Nadda and Nalin Kumar Kateel booked for extortion and other offences in connection with the Electoral Bonds scheme.
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BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court, on Tuesday, dismissed a criminal case against prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, BJP National President JP Nadda, and Karnataka BJP Chief Nalin Kumar Kateel.
The case, which alleged extortion and other offenses connected to the controversial Electoral Bonds scheme, was quashed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna.
Background of the Case
The case originated from an FIR registered against the BJP leaders and unnamed officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), based on a private complaint. The XLII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Bengaluru had taken cognizance of the complaint filed by activist Adarsh R. Iyer, representing the NGO Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath.
The allegations centered around accusations that BJP leaders, in collusion with ED officials, exploited private firms for financial gains under the Electoral Bonds scheme.
Iyer alleged that the leaders
“committed extortion under the guise and garb of electoral bonds and benefited to the tune of Rs 8000 crores and more.”
The complaint highlighted raids conducted by the ED on companies like Vedanta, Sterlite, and Aurobindo Pharma, asserting that these actions were intended to coerce company proprietors into making political donations via Electoral Bonds.
Judicial Proceedings
The investigation into the case had been previously stayed after Nalin Kumar Kateel challenged the FIR, asserting that the accusations were politically motivated. In his petition, Kateel claimed that he and others had been “falsely implicated” and argued that the case was registered “with an ulterior political motive.”
During the hearings, the complainant’s advocate, Prashant Bhushan, argued that the complaint was legitimate, stating that
“there was no bar in law to prevent a citizen from setting the criminal law in motion when it comes to grave offences.”
On the other hand, Senior Advocate KG Raghavan, representing Kateel, contended that the legal requirements for registering a case of extortion were not met.
High Court Verdict
After reviewing the arguments, Justice M. Nagaprasanna dismissed the case, thereby quashing the FIR. The Court’s decision effectively brought an end to the legal proceedings initiated against the BJP leaders.
The detailed reasoning behind the verdict remains to be seen, but the dismissal marks a significant development in the controversy surrounding the Electoral Bonds scheme.
Context of the Electoral Bonds Scheme
The Electoral Bonds scheme has been a contentious issue in Indian politics, with critics alleging that it facilitates opaque political funding. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court struck down the scheme, raising further questions about its misuse and the implications for electoral transparency.
This verdict provides relief to the BJP leaders named in the case but also reignites debates over the legality and ethicality of the scheme and the alleged political misuse of institutions like the Enforcement Directorate.
The dismissal of the case underscores the challenges of proving such allegations in a legal framework, particularly when high-profile political figures are involved.
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