In the wake of the electoral bonds scheme that was recently scrapped, the Bengaluru Special Court ordered the registration of a case against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and many others for extortion. Bringing a complaint against Sitharaman and others for operating an extortion racket behind an electoral bonds initiative, Adarsh Iyer, representing the Janaadhikara Sangharsha Sanghatane (JSP), had moved the petition.
The complaint mentioned Sitharaman and BJP President JP Nadda, former BJP Karnataka President Nalin Kumar Kateel, and the party’s current state chief, BY Vijayendra. While the FIR lodged at Tilaknagar Police Station refers to only Sitharaman and unnamed officers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the FIR cites sections related to extortion and criminal conspiracy and speaks about other BJP leaders and unnamed state office bearers.
It is alleged that corporations were coerced into buying electoral bonds of thousands of crores, and ED raids were allegedly used as coercive measures to effect this coercion. The complaint alleges that these electoral bonds were cashed by BJP leaders at all national and state levels, effectively facilitating the accumulation of illicit funds for political purposes.
The BJP has supported Sitharaman, saying that the charges against her are politically motivated. The party reiterated that the electoral bond issue was a policy matter, not a criminal one. Furthermore, BJP spokesperson Dr. Sudha Halkai attacked Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as one who has a history of obstruction of investigations; he said there have been countless cases against the Congress leaders, including 64 against Siddaramaiah when he was the Chief Minister.
Talking to the pressure on him from an FIR regarding the allotment of land by Mysuru Urban Development Authority, Siddaramaiah questioned why Sitharaman and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy-under probe for corruption-would not be asked to resign. He argued that if he is expected to resign, Sitharaman and other BJP leaders with FIRs against them must follow the same principle.
Lokayukta police lodge FIR against Siddaramaiah, wife, and relatives for alleged illegal allotments of MUDA sites.
