In a significant legal development, the Karnataka High Court has stayed an investigation against Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Karnataka BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra, and other senior leaders related to allegations of extortion under the guise of electoral bonds. The FIR, filed by Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath co-president Adarsh Iyer, claims that the leaders unlawfully benefited from the electoral bonds scheme, amassing over ₹8,000 crore.
The case revolves around accusations that Sitharaman, along with other BJP officials, conspired with enforcement authorities to facilitate the extortion of large sums of money through the now-defunct electoral bonds system. The FIR lists charges under the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy and extortion. The High Court has deferred the matter for further hearings on October 22, providing temporary relief to the accused.
This judicial intervention comes amid growing scrutiny of the electoral bonds scheme, which the Supreme Court previously ruled unconstitutional, citing concerns over transparency and citizens' right to information. The bonds had allowed anonymous donations to political parties, a feature that sparked public and legal backlash.
