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A Bengaluru Special Court has ordered the filing of an FIR against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, escalating a political controversy surrounding the electoral bonds scheme. The complaint, filed by Adarsh Iyer of the Janaadhikara Sangharsha Sanghatane (JSP), alleges that Sitharaman and other high-ranking BJP leaders orchestrated an extortion racket through the now-scrapped electoral bonds system.
The complaint names Sitharaman, BJP President JP Nadda, and prominent Karnataka BJP figures Naleen Kumar Kateel and BY Vijayendra. It accuses corporate entities of being coerced into purchasing electoral bonds worth thousands of crores, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids cited as a tactic to pressure them. These bonds were allegedly subsequently cashed by BJP leaders at both national and state levels.
The crux of the complaint lies in its assertion that the electoral bonds scheme was a mechanism for accumulating illicit funds for political purposes, with Sitharaman and other senior BJP leaders actively involved in the process. This allegation has sparked fierce debate, with the BJP defending its leader and claiming that the charges are politically motivated.
The BJP insists that the electoral bonds issue is a policy matter, not a criminal one. In response to the allegations, the party has also attacked Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, highlighting the ongoing MUDA case against him. BJP spokesperson Dr Sudha Halkai claimed that Siddaramaiah has a history of non-cooperation with investigative agencies, citing numerous cases against Congress leaders during his previous tenure as Chief Minister.
Siddaramaiah, however, has countered these accusations, questioning why leaders like Sitharaman and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, both facing corruption probes, are not being asked to resign. He argued that if he is expected to step down, the same standards should apply to Sitharaman and other BJP leaders facing FIRs.
The Lokayukta police have filed an FIR against Siddaramaiah, his wife, and family members regarding the alleged illegal allotment of MUDA sites. This latest development further intensifies the political battle in Karnataka, with both sides using the FIRs as ammunition in their respective campaigns.
Source: Court Orders FIR Against N Sitharaman Over Poll Bonds Extortion Allegation