Bengaluru: The Karnataka Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Seetharaman, following allegations of extortion linked to electoral bonds. The FIR was registered at the Tilak Nagar police station in Bengaluru on Saturday, acting on directives from the Special Court for MLAs and MPs.
Karnataka Police Action: FIR Filed Against Union Minister Nirmala Seetharaman has been identified as the prime accused in the case, which also implicates several officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), as well as Central BJP office bearers, former Karnataka BJP MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, and State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra. Other BJP state office bearers are also named among the accused.
The FIR charges the individuals under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 384 (extortion), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
The complaint was lodged by Adarsh R. Iyer, Co-President of the Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishat, who alleged that Seetharaman and others conspired to extort over Rs 8,000 crores through the manipulation of electoral bonds. The complaint states that the accused exploited their positions and the authority of the officials to intimidate corporate leaders into purchasing electoral bonds, which were then allegedly misappropriated.
According to Iyer’s statement, the accused allegedly used the threat of raids and arrests to coerce corporates into compliance. “It appears the prime accused utilized the services of officials named to conduct raids, coercing numerous corporates to buy electoral bonds worth several crores,” he alleged.
The Special Court’s order mandates that the jurisdictional police proceed with the investigation, with the next hearing scheduled for October 10. The development has intensified scrutiny over the use of electoral bonds in India, raising questions about transparency and accountability in political financing.
As this case unfolds, it remains to be seen how the political landscape in Karnataka and beyond will be affected by these serious allegations against high-ranking officials.