FIR Against Nirmala Sitharaman Over Electoral Bond Complaint Alleging 'Criminal Conspiracy and Extortion'

In a significant development, a Bengaluru court has ordered the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and several other prominent figures, including Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials and BJP leaders, over allegations of extortion linked to the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme.

Court Order and FIR Registration

The FIR was registered at the Tilak Nagar police station in Bengaluru following a directive from a special court for cases involving elected representatives. This decision came after a private complaint was filed by Adarsh R Iyer, the Co-President of Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishad (JSP), alleging criminal conspiracy and extortion under the guise of the electoral bonds scheme.

Allegations of Extortion

The complaint alleges that Sitharaman, with the covert assistance of ED officials, facilitated the extortion of thousands of crores of rupees for the benefit of various individuals at both state and national levels. Iyer claimed that the accused "committed extortion under the guise and garb of electoral bonds and benefitted to the tune of Rs 8,000 crore and more".

The complaint further details that corporates were coerced into buying electoral bonds due to the fear of ED raids, seizures, and arrests. For instance, Sterlite and Vedanta Company, led by Anil Agarwal, were subjected to multiple ED raids, after which they purchased electoral bonds worth Rs 230.15 crores on several occasions. Similar allegations were made against Aurobindo Pharma, which also bought electoral bonds following ED actions.

Supreme Court Ruling on Electoral Bonds

The electoral bonds scheme, which was introduced in 2018, was recently struck down by the Supreme Court in February 2024. The court termed the scheme as "unconstitutional, arbitrary and violative of Article 14" of the Constitution, emphasizing that the information about funding to a political party is essential for voters to exercise their freedom to vote effectively.

Political Reactions

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has seized on the court's order to demand Sitharaman's resignation, along with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy. Siddaramaiah questioned the Karnataka BJP's silence on the issue, suggesting that if an impartial investigation were conducted, it could lead to the resignation of Prime Minister Modi as well.

In response, Kumaraswamy questioned the rationale behind the calls for resignation, asking if the electoral bond funds had been diverted to Sitharaman's personal account. He challenged the logic of demanding resignations based solely on the court's order to file an FIR.

Other Accused and Legal Implications

The FIR names several other individuals, including Karnataka BJP chief B Y Vijayendra, senior leader Nalinkumar Kateel, and other office bearers of the BJP at both state and national levels. The complaint also mentions BJP National President JP Nadda, although his name is not included in the FIR.

The police have invoked sections 384 (punishment for extortion) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

This development has significant implications for the political landscape, especially with the allegations of widespread extortion and the involvement of high-ranking officials and politicians. The investigation into these allegations will be closely watched as it unfolds.

Sources

• FIR against FM Sitharaman over electoral bond complaint alleging 'criminal conspiracy and extortion'
• FIR against Nirmala Sitharaman, others in electoral bond extortion case
• Case Registered Against N Sitharaman Over Poll Bonds Extortion Allegation