Karnataka BJP to Seek HC’s Intervention to Quash FIR Against FM Sitharaman and Vijayendra in Electoral Bond Case
The Karnataka BJP plans to file a petition in the High Court seeking to quash the FIR against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, state BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra, and others, as confirmed by sources on Monday.
The petition is set to be submitted by Wednesday, October 2. The Karnataka state BJP Legal Cell has prepared the draft for this petition, which will request an immediate hearing due to the urgency of the matter.
The FIR was registered at the Tilak Nagar police station following an order from the Bengaluru Special Court for Public Representatives. The case has taken a political twist, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah facing an FIR registered with the Karnataka Lokayukta, leading to calls for Finance Minister Sitharaman’s resignation.
In response, the BJP is strongly demanding CM Siddaramaiah’s ouster following the filing of the FIR. Sources indicate that the BJP will argue that the allegations are unfounded and that the case is being used as a political tool by the Karnataka government.
In a significant development, Karnataka Police registered the FIR against FM Sitharaman last Saturday, relating to allegations of “extortion” through electoral bonds. The Tilak Nagar police acted on directions from the Special Court for MLAs/MPs.
FM Sitharaman is named as the prime accused in the case, with officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) listed as the second accused. Other individuals named include central BJP office bearers, former Karnataka BJP MP Nalin Kumar Kateel as the fourth accused, and state BJP chief Vijayendra as the fifth accused. Additional state BJP office bearers have also been implicated as the sixth accused.
The FIR has been filed under several sections of the IPC, including 384 (extortion), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
