A Bengaluru court has directed the registration of a FIR against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in relation to allegations of extortion linked to the now-abolished electoral bonds scheme. The complaint was filed by Adarsh Iyer from the Janaadhikara Sangharsha Sanghatane, claiming that Sitharaman and others misused the scheme for extortion.
The Special Court for People’s Representatives in Bengaluru issued the order, prompting the police to register the FIR against the finance minister and several individuals involved in the case.
The electoral bonds scheme, introduced by the central government in 2018, aimed to enhance transparency in political donations by replacing cash contributions with bonds. However, the Supreme Court deemed the scheme “unconstitutional” in February, citing its violation of citizens’ right to information regarding political funding.
In response to the allegations, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy remarked, “The CM (Siddaramaiah) is asking for my resignation and that of Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. They requested an FIR. Did the electoral bond money go into her personal account? Why should she resign, and why should I? You can’t do anything about the Gangenahalli denotification issue.”
