Sat Sep 28 19:59:19 UTC 2024: ## Bengaluru Court Orders FIR Against Finance Minister Sitharaman in Electoral Bond Scam

A Bengaluru court has directed the Tilak Nagar Police to file an FIR against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, following allegations of her involvement in extorting money through the now-defunct electoral bonds. The order comes after a petition was filed by Adarsh Iyer of the Janadhikar Sangharsh Parishad (JSP), seeking action against the Minister.

This development has triggered a political storm in Karnataka, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah calling for Sitharaman’s immediate resignation. He also criticized the opposition BJP for their silence on the matter, suggesting that if an impartial investigation were to take place, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also resign alongside former Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

Kumaraswamy, however, challenged the rationale behind these calls for resignations, questioning if the electoral bond funds had ended up in Sitharaman’s personal account. He asserted that an FIR does not necessarily warrant resignations, particularly without evidence of personal gain.

Congress leader V Gurunadham also commented on the situation, stating that if Sitharaman is found guilty of extortion through the electoral bonds, she should face the legal consequences.

The development comes as a major blow to the BJP, which has been under fire for its role in the electoral bond scheme. The scheme has been criticized for its lack of transparency and its potential to facilitate illegal donations to political parties.

This case is likely to be closely watched as it could have far-reaching implications for the future of the electoral bond scheme.

Read More