New Delhi: A special court for elected representatives in Bengaluru has ordered the registration of an FIR against Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others, over allegations of extortion through election bonds.
The complaint states that there has been corruption through election bonds. Consequently, Adarsh R. Iyer from the Janadhikari Sangharsha Parishat (JSP) filed a private complaint against Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Nalin Kumar Kateel, and BY Vijayendra in the special court for elected representatives in Bengaluru. After examining the complaint, the 42nd ACMM court issued an order to send copies of the complaint and related documents to the records section. The court’s office has instructed that the documents be sent to the Tilak Nagar police station in Bengaluru. The investigation has been adjourned to October 10, pending the FIR.
Complaint includes Nirmala Sitharaman, J P Nadda
The court has directed the Tilak Nagar police to register the FIR. The complaint includes Nirmala Sitharaman, BJP national president J P Nadda, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, BJP leader Nalin Kumar Kateel, and the central and state BJP offices, as well as the ED department. The complaint indicates that between April 2019 and August 2022, approximately Rs 230 crore was collected through election bonds from businessman Anil Agarwal’s company and Rs 49 crore from Aurobindo Pharma.
In February, the Supreme Court deemed the electoral bonds scheme “unconstitutional,” stating it infringed on citizens’ right to information. Introduced by the Centre in 2018, the scheme aimed to replace cash donations to political parties and enhance transparency in political funding.
Siddaramaiah calls for resignation of Nirmala Sitharaman
In response to the case, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has called for the resignation of Nirmala Sitharaman and requested that a report be submitted within three months. “An FIR has been filed against Nirmala Sitharaman in the Special Court for People’s Representatives. Who is she? She is a Union Minister, and an FIR has been registered against her. They were involved in extortion through electoral bonds, and the FIR has been lodged for that. She should resign now that the FIR is registered. Will the BJP demand her resignation?” he said while addressing a press conference.
“According to Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the investigation must be completed and a report submitted within three months. Based on this, the FIR has been registered, and further investigations are underway,” he added.
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