Bengaluru: An FIR has been registered against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, BJP Karnataka president B.Y. Vijayendra, and senior party leader Nalin Kumar Kateel over allegations of misusing the now-abolished electoral bond scheme. The case, filed by the Tilak Nagar Police on Saturday, stems from a special court directive following a complaint accusing the trio of extortion and criminal conspiracy involving over ₹8,000 crore obtained through electoral bonds in favor of the BJP.

The FIR was lodged based on a private complaint by Adarsh R. Iyer, Co-President of the Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath (JSP), who alleged that Ms. Sitharaman and officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) extorted over ₹8,000 crore through the misuse of electoral bonds, benefiting the BJP. The complaint also named Vijayendra, Kateel, and key ED officials as co-conspirators.

According to the FIR, the accused have been charged under sections 384 (extortion), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The charges follow allegations that Ms. Sitharaman and ED officials used their authority to extort money from companies, pressuring them to contribute funds to the BJP through manipulated electoral bonds for political gain.

The complainant further claimed that the extortion scheme was a coordinated effort involving BJP leaders at both state and national levels. He alleged that Ms. Sitharaman orchestrated raids, seizures, and arrests through the ED to compel corporations into making payments via electoral bonds, funneling funds for the BJP's political financing.

The case, which comes after the controversial abolition of the electoral bond scheme, is likely to attract significant attention as the investigation progresses.