Electoral bonds case: Relief for FM Sitharaman as Karnataka HC stays probe

NEW DELHI: The Karnataka High Court has temporarily halted the investigation against union finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others regarding alleged irregularities in the now scrapped electoral bond scheme. The interim order was issued by Justice M Nagaprasanna in response to a petition filed by BJP leader Nalin Kumar Kateel, who is also named as an accused in the FIR.The case will be heard again on October 22.
Following a complaint related to the scheme, a case was registered on Saturday against Sitharaman and others based on the directions of a special court.
According to police, the FIR was filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to extortion, criminal conspiracy, and acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention. The accused named in the FIR include Sitharaman, enforcement directorate officials, and office-bearers of the BJP at both state and national levels, including BJP Karnataka chief B Y Vijayendra.
The complaint was filed by Adarsh R Iyer, co-president of 'Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath' (JSP), who alleged that the accused "committed extortion under the guise and garb of electoral bonds and benefitted to the tune of 8,000 and more crore of rupees."
Iyer further claimed that Sitharaman, with the help of ED officials, facilitated the extortion of thousands of crores of rupees for the benefit of others at both state and national levels. He alleged that the entire extortion racket was orchestrated in collaboration with BJP officials at various levels.
In February, the Supreme Court struck down the electoral bond scheme, stating that it violates the right to information and the freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution.