In a major development, the Karnataka Police registered an FIR against Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday in connection with allegations of 'extortion' through electoral bonds.
Tilak Nagar police in Bengaluru have filed the FIR as per the directions of the Special Court of MLAs/MPs.
FM Sitharaman has been named as the prime accused in the case. The officials of ED have been named as the second accused while the office bearers of the Central BJP office have been named as the third accused; former Karnataka BJP MP Nalin Kumar Kateel as the fourth accused and State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra as the fifth accused in the case. The state BJP office bearers are named as the sixth accused.
The police have booked FIR under IPC Sections 384 (extortion), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Bengaluru Special Court has ordered an FIR against FM Sitharaman and others for the crime of extortion through Electoral Bonds.
Co-President of Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishat Adarsh R Iyer is the complainant in the case. The Special Court had given directions to file FIR in this regard on Friday.
The complainant has alleged the crime of extortion against FM Sitaraman and others through Electoral Bonds.
The court had ordered the filing of an FIR to the jurisdictional SHO of Tilak Nagar police station in Bengaluru. The next hearing date is fixed on October 10.
The complainant has submitted that the first and second in connivance with the third and fourth accused and many others who are holding constitutional posts, CEOs and MDs of national MNC and TNC corporate companies committed extortion under the guise and garb of electoral bonds and benefited to the tune of more than Rs 8,000 crores.
The complainant has mentioned that the prime accused through the clandestine aid and support of the officials facilitated to extort of thousands of crores for the benefit of the third accused at the national level and the fourth accused in the state of Karnataka.
“It appears the prime accused press the service of officials named to conduct raids, seizures and arrests of various corporate companies, their CEOs, MDs etc. Fearing the raids, many corporates and moneybags were coerced and coaxed to buy electoral bonds worth several crores, which were encashed by the accused,” Adarsh Iyer stated in his complaint.
The petitioner alleged that the entire “extortion racket” under the garb of electoral bonds has been orchestrated hand in glove with officials of the BJP at various levels.
Govt justifies deportation from US, cites diplomatic obligation
Calling for a focus on a strong crackdown against the illegal immigration industry, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday reiterated the universal obligation for countries to repatriate their nationals found living abroad illegally.
Saved from penal action, repatriated safely — how have things changed drastically for illegal Indian immigrants since 2014
Making a statement in Parliament, the EAM urged that the focus should instead remain on a strong crackdown against the illegal immigration industry as the process of deportation is not new and has been ongoing for several years.
Emergency was aimed to pamper arrogance of Congress' royal family: PM Modi
Replying in Rajya Sabha to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, PM Modi highlighted how the Congress government during the 'Emergency' persecuted singer Kishore Kumar and actors Dev Anand and Balraj Sahni who refused to support it during that dark phase.
BJP ally Tipra Motha Party threatens to withdraw support if govt does not fulfil promises
Tripura's ruling coalition partner, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), on Thursday threatened to withdraw its support from the BJP-led government if the Centre did not fulfil the provisions of the tripartite accord signed on March 2 last year.
Not new procedure, been in place since 2009: EAM Jaishankar on deportation row
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that there has been "no change from the past procedure" in the deportation of illegal immigrants by the United States, emphasizing that the process is "not a new one".
Cong seeks discussion in LS, dignified treatment for deported Indians by US
The Indian nationals who were deported from the US for illegally arriving in the country on Wednesday claimed that they were sent back on the military aircraft with their hands and legs cuffed throughout the journey.
J&K mysterious deaths: All pesticide, insecticide shops sealed in Rajouri district
All pesticide and insecticide shops have been sealed by authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s (J&K) Rajouri district as part of preventive measures taken after 17 ‘mysterious deaths’ took place in Budhal village, officials said on Thursday.
Pariksha Pe Charcha: PM Modi to engage with students; Sadguru, Mary Kom, Deepika to join discussion
The much-anticipated eighth edition of 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' (PPC) is set to return in an expanded format, featuring an array of distinguished experts and guests, alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi.