Sat Sep 28 17:58:56 UTC 2024: ## Congress Leader Kharge Welcomes FIR Against Finance Minister Sitharaman in Electoral Bond Case

**Bengaluru, September 28:** An FIR has been filed against Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, and BJP leaders in Bengaluru on Saturday, alleging forced collection of funds through electoral bonds. The complaint was filed by Janadhikara Sangarsha Parishad (JSP) co-president, A.R. Iyengar, who alleged that the accused had used the ED to intimidate corporates and force them to purchase electoral bonds worth over ₹8,000 crores.

The FIR (No. 0224/2024) was registered under sections 384 (punishment for extortion) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Commenting on the development, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party had previously raised the issue of electoral bonds in Parliament, accusing the BJP of using the ED and CBI to intimidate individuals. “We had raised the issue in Parliament that they used ED and CBI to intimidate people and get them to purchase electoral bonds. Now, someone has taken the matter to court. We will see what happens,” said Kharge.

The FIR names Nirmala Sitharaman as accused number 1, former BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel as accused number 5, and Vijayendra as accused number 6. Other BJP leaders at the national and state levels are also named in the FIR.

The development follows a court order on Friday (September 27) directing the Thilkanagar police station to register an FIR based on a private complaint filed by Iyengar. He alleged that the accused, including Sitharaman, had used the ED to conduct raids, seizures, and arrests to force several corporates and wealthy individuals to purchase electoral bonds. He also claimed that the entire operation was carried out with the connivance of BJP officials at various levels.

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