The Karnataka High Court has declared a stay order on the investigation related to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other accused involved in the alleged irregularities to the now abandoned electoral bond scheme. The interim order was passed on by Justice M Nagaprasanna as a petition was submitted by BJP leader Nalin Kumar Kateel who was named in the FIR. The court has announced the next hearing for 22 October.
Accusations of extortion and criminal conspiracy
The case was followed after a complaint was filed which resulted in an FIR on Saturday, by receiving the order by a special court for it. Sitharaman has been accused along with key BJP members from state as well as national level along with officials from the Enforcement Directorate. They all have been charged on several sections of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita including 120B (criminal conspiracy), 384 (extortion), and 34 (acts conducted in furtherance of common intention).
BJP Karnataka chief B.Y. Vijayendra has also been named as a co-accused in the FIR. The complaint has been submitted by Adarsh R.Iyer who is Co-President of ‘Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath’ (JSP), he has stated that the alleged persons have extorted more than Rs 8,000 crore under the guise of the electoral bonds scheme.
All about the electoral bonds scheme
The Supreme Court struck down the electoral bonds scheme in February and declared it unconstitutional and termed it a violation of freedom of speech and the right to information. As per the complainant, Sitharaman has taken assistance from the Enforcement Directorate officials and has orchestrated the extortion scheme. Under the scheme, individuals at both state as well national levels have taken financial benefits and BJP leaders’ involvement across various ranks has also been mentioned.