Karnataka High Court Stays Probe Against Nirmala Sitharaman In Poll Bonds Case

The Karnataka High Court on Monday stayed further investigation against Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other top BJP leaders over alleged irregularities in a case linked to now-scrapped poll bonds scheme. 

Justice M Nagaprasanna passed the interim order on a petition filed by BJP leader Nalin Kumar Kateel challenging the FIR in which he has been named as an accused.

The matter will be next heard on October 22.

A case was registered on Saturday against Ms Sitharaman and others on the directions of a special court, following a complaint relating to the scheme.

The complaint was filed by Adarsh Iyer of the Janaadhikara Sangharsha Sanghatane (JSP), accusing Ms Sitharaman and others of orchestrating an extortion racket under the guise of electoral bonds.

The petitioner had alleged that corporate entities were coerced into purchasing electoral bonds to the tune of thousands of crores, citing raids conducted by the Enforcement Directorate or ED as a pressure tactic. These electoral bonds were purportedly cashed by BJP leaders at both national and state levels.

It further claims that the electoral bonds scheme facilitated the accumulation of illicit funds for political purposes, with Ms Sitharaman and other senior BJP leaders involved in the process.

In February, the Supreme Court struck down the scheme, saying it violates the right to information and the freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution.