A Special Court in Bengaluru has ordered the filing of an FIR against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other BJP leaders, including JP Nadda, over allegations of extortion linked to the electoral bonds scheme. The complaint claims that corporate entities were coerced into purchasing bonds, with the Enforcement Directorate reportedly using raids to exert pressure.
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BENGALURU: A Special Court in Bengaluru has directed the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over allegations of extortion linked to the now-defunct electoral bonds scheme. The complaint, filed by Adarsh Iyer of the Janaadhikara Sangharsha Sanghatane (JSP), has caused a stir in the political arena, claiming that Sitharaman and several other key leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) operated an extortion racket disguised as part of the contentious electoral bonds initiative.
The complaint doesn’t stop at Sitharaman alone. Alongside her, BJP President JP Nadda and key Karnataka BJP leaders Naleen Kumar Kateel and BY Vijayendra have also been named. The allegations suggest that corporate entities were coerced into purchasing electoral bonds amounting to thousands of crores, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids allegedly used as a tactic to pressure companies into compliance. These bonds, according to the claims, were eventually cashed by BJP leaders at both the national and state levels.
The core of the complaint revolves around the now-discontinued electoral bonds scheme, which was initially introduced as a method to allow anonymous political donations. However, it has drawn criticism from various quarters, with accusations that it was a conduit for generating illicit funds for political purposes. The petition filed by Iyer points fingers at Sitharaman and her colleagues, alleging that they were integral to this process of fund accumulation.
This scandal is further compounded by claims of corporate coercion, with the complaint emphasizing the misuse of enforcement agencies like the ED to intimidate businesses into purchasing the bonds. The money, it alleges, was then funneled back to the party and its leaders.
As the accusations fly, the BJP has staunchly defended Nirmala Sitharaman, dismissing the charges as politically motivated. A key argument from the party’s side is that the issue of electoral bonds is a matter of policy, not a criminal offense. In a counterattack, the BJP criticized Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the ongoing Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case.
“Mr. Siddaramaiah has a track record of not cooperating with investigative agencies. Out of 106 cases against Congress leaders, 64 were directly linked to him during his previous tenure as the Chief Minister of Karnataka.”
-said Dr. Sudha Halkai, a BJP spokesperson.
These remarks come amidst growing pressure on Siddaramaiah, who himself is facing an FIR in relation to the alleged illegal allotment of MUDA sites. The Lokayukta police have filed an FIR against Siddaramaiah, his wife, and other family members, accusing them of unlawfully securing land allotments.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has responded fiercely, calling for the resignation of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman following the Bengaluru court’s order to file an FIR against her. During a press conference on Friday, he questioned the silence of the Karnataka BJP on the issue and urged them to protest for Sitharaman’s resignation in connection with the alleged “scam.”
“When will the leaders protest and march for her resignation, Karnataka BJP?”
-Siddaramaiah asked, highlighting the hypocrisy he perceives in the BJP’s stance. He didn’t stop there, further escalating the situation by calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy if an “impartial investigation” were conducted into the matter.
“If there is a fair investigation into this case, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be required to resign. Let Kumaraswamy, who is currently out on bail, resign as well.”
-he declared in a social media post on X.
Not one to stay silent, HD Kumaraswamy fired back at Siddaramaiah’s demands. The former Karnataka Chief Minister questioned the rationale behind calls for his and Sitharaman’s resignation, pointing out that the electoral bonds money had not gone into Sitharaman’s personal account.
“The CM is demanding both my resignation and Nirmala Sitharaman’s? Yes, the Court ordered an FIR to be filed, but did the electoral bond money go into her personal account? Why should she or I resign?”
-Kumaraswamy questioned, raising doubts over the motivations behind Siddaramaiah’s accusations.
Earlier on Friday, a Bengaluru Special Court had directed the Tilak Nagar police to file an FIR against Sitharaman and other implicated leaders based on Adarsh Iyer’s petition. The order followed a detailed hearing of the allegations of extortion through the electoral bonds. The Court of People’s Representatives took the decision to move forward with the FIR, marking a significant development in the case.
The FIR pertains to the crime of extortion linked to the now-controversial electoral bonds scheme, which has since been scrapped. According to the complaint, the scheme was allegedly used as a method to accumulate illegal political donations, benefiting the BJP and its leaders both nationally and regionally.
