 |
|
The Bengaluru police have taken a significant step in investigating allegations of irregularities surrounding electoral bonds, registering a First Information Report (FIR) against prominent political figures, including Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP national president J P Nadda. The FIR was lodged on Saturday, following a directive from a special court handling cases involving elected representatives. This development underscores the growing scrutiny over the controversial electoral bond scheme, which has been subject to criticism for its lack of transparency and potential for misuse.
The FIR stems from a private complaint filed by Adarsh R Iyer, co-president of Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath (JSP). Iyer's complaint alleges a criminal conspiracy and extortion scheme by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming that the party compelled entities and individuals to purchase electoral bonds in their favor. The complaint specifically targets Sitharaman, Nadda, BJP Karnataka president B Y Vijayendra, and senior leader Naleen Kumar Kateel. The police have invoked sections 384 (punishment for extortion) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the FIR.
The electoral bond scheme, introduced in 2018, allows political parties to receive anonymous donations through bonds issued by state-owned banks. While proponents argue that the scheme promotes transparency by reducing the reliance on cash donations, critics point to its lack of disclosure requirements, which they claim facilitate the flow of unaccounted money into political campaigns. The scheme has been the subject of numerous legal challenges, with concerns raised about its potential to undermine electoral fairness and transparency. This FIR adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that the electoral bond system may be open to abuse and manipulation.
The case against Sitharaman, Nadda, and other BJP leaders is likely to attract significant attention, particularly as it probes allegations of serious financial crimes. The investigation's outcome will have implications for the electoral bond scheme's future and could potentially lead to further scrutiny of the scheme's implementation and regulatory oversight. With the upcoming general elections in India, the case surrounding the electoral bonds is likely to become a key political issue.