FIR Filed Against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Over Alleged Electoral Bond Misuse

On September 28, 2024, an FIR was registered against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman by the Tilak Nagar police in Bengaluru. This development comes amid allegations of misuse of electoral bonds for extortion, as detailed in a complaint filed by Adarsh R. Iyer, co-president of the Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath (JSP).

The FIR names Ms. Sitharaman, along with BJP Karnataka unit president B.Y. Vijayendra and senior party leader Nalin Kumar Kateel, under the sections 384 (punishment for extortion) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), read with 34 (acts done with common intention).

According to the complaint, the accused allegedly coerced corporations into buying electoral bonds worth over ₹8,000 crore to avoid raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), with these funds purportedly benefiting the BJP. “The extortion was committed in connivance with BJP leaders and office-bearers, both at the state and national level,” Mr. Iyer has alleged.

Initially filed with the jurisdictional police on March 30, 2024, and subsequently with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru Southeast, in April 2024, the complaint was eventually taken to a special court dealing with criminal cases related to MPs and MLAs in Karnataka, leading to the FIR order.

The accusations have spurred political tension, with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and senior BJP members engaging in a war of words. Siddaramaiah has called for resignations within the BJP, while the ruling party has dismissed the charges as politically motivated.

BJP leaders, including Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, have defended the use of electoral bonds as a legal policy measure passed by Parliament and have insisted on a fair review of the recent allegations.