A Bengaluru court on Saturday ordered the Karnataka police to register an FIR against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after she was accused of extortion through the now-crapped electoral bond scheme.
Adarsh Iyer from Janaadhikara Sangharsha Sanghatane (JSS) has accused Sitharaman and her department of engaging in extortion via electoral bonds. Following an examination of the case, the Special Court for People’s Representatives directed the Tilak Nagar police station to file an FIR.
Apart from the finance minister, the complaint has also named several other BJP top brass leaders including Union Health Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda, BJP Karnataka President Nalin Kumar Kateel as well as several ED officials, according to a report by News18.
The complaint claims that they plotted to extract money through electoral bonds by exploiting the raids they carried out.
“Our allegation is that Nirmala Sitharaman is misusing her position as finance minister to benefit her party, which is ruling at the Centre. That is where extortion comes into the picture,” Iyer told News18.
Calling the electoral bonds scheme a scam, Iyer highlighted that their complaint proves a case of extortion by Sitharaman and her BJP colleagues in Karnataka.
“Our allegation is that Nirmala Sitharaman is misusing her position as finance minister to benefit her party, which is ruling at the Centre. That is where extortion comes into the picture,” Iyer said, adding that the data on electoral bonds released by the State Bank of India shows how the extortion was done.
Meanwhile, Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy, an ally of BJP, defended Sitharaman against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s demand that the finance minister should step down.
He said, “Why should she resign if the electoral bond funds didn’t go into her personal account? They’ve asked for an FIR to be filed, but that doesn’t mean she is guilty.”
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Court orders FIR against Nirmala Sitharaman over alleged extortion through electoral bonds
