In a significant legal development, the Karnataka Police filed an FIR against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, BJP President J.P. Nadda, and several other members of the state BJP unit. The allegations revolve around accusations of extorting money through the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme. Click here to download Electoral Bonds Official Data.
How It Started
The FIR came after a directive from the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, which handles criminal cases involving elected representatives. The complaint was filed by Adarsh R. Iyer, the co-president of the Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath, a local advocacy group.
The complaint accuses BJP leaders of coercing corporate entities into purchasing electoral bonds (EBs) worth over ₹8,000 crore, which were allegedly used for political purposes. It also claims that aluminium and copper companies like those under the Sterlite and Vedanta groups were forced to buy bonds worth ₹230 crore between April 2019 and November 2023. Additionally, raids on Aurobindo Pharma Group allegedly led to the purchase of bonds worth ₹49.5 crore from July 2022 to November 2023. Read: BJP got more than Rs.6000 crore donation via Electoral Bonds
According to the FIR, Sitharaman and other BJP leaders, including Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra and former state chief Nalin Kumar Kateel, have been charged under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to extortion (Section 384), criminal conspiracy (Section 120B), and acts involving multiple individuals with common intent (Section 34). Read: SBI received Rs 10.68 crore as commission for selling Electoral Bonds.
The Role of the Enforcement Directorate (ED)
The complaint also accuses the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of misusing its authority by conducting raids, seizures, and arrests to pressure corporations into purchasing electoral bonds. Specifically, the complaint highlights raids on Aurobindo Pharma Group, which allegedly led to the company purchasing bonds after being coerced. Read: Govt spent Rs.14 crore on printing Electoral Bonds: RTI Reply
BJP’s Response
The BJP has dismissed the FIR, accusing the Congress-led state government of using the allegations to divert attention from another controversy — the Muda scam involving Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. BJP members argue that the FIR is politically motivated and an attempt to tarnish the party’s image.
Siddaramaiah, on the other hand, responded by calling for the resignation of Nirmala Sitharaman. He questioned why BJP leaders are not protesting against the finance minister over this alleged scandal. He also remarked that if an impartial investigation takes place, Prime Minister Narendra Modi might also be implicated. He further suggested that Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who is currently out on bail, should also resign.
Kumaraswamy’s Reaction
Kumaraswamy fired back at the allegations, questioning why he or Sitharaman should resign. He pointed out that the electoral bond money didn’t go to her personal account, unlike accusations made against other political figures. He dismissed Siddaramaiah’s call for resignation, stating that the charges lacked personal involvement.
Conclusion
The FIR against Nirmala Sitharaman, J.P. Nadda, and other BJP leaders has sparked a heated political debate in Karnataka. As the investigation unfolds, both sides continue to accuse each other of using the case to divert attention from other scandals. Whether the allegations hold or not will be determined through further legal proceedings.
