BENGALURU: On Saturday, a case was filed against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others following a court order in Bengaluru, related to the now-defunct electoral bonds scheme. 

The Tilaknagar police registered the First Information Report (FIR) under sections 384 (extortion), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (acts done by several persons with common intention) of the Indian Penal Code against Sitharaman, Enforcement Directorate officials, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office-bearers at both state and national levels, based on a special court's directive.

Among those implicated are key BJP figures, including Karnataka president B. Y. Vijayendra and party leader Nalin Kumar Kateel, along with officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The complaint, filed by Adarsh R Iyer, Co-President of 'Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath' (JSP), alleges that the accused engaged in extortion under the pretext of electoral bonds, benefiting to the tune of over Rs 8,000 crore. Iyer further claimed that Sitharaman, with the covert assistance of ED officials, facilitated the extortion of thousands of crores for the benefit of others at both state and national levels. He described the entire extortion scheme as being orchestrated in collusion with BJP officials at various levels.

In February, the Supreme Court struck down the electoral bond scheme, stating it violated the right to information and freedom of speech and expression under the Constitution.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah, whose resignation is being demanded by the opposition BJP over an FIR in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case, remarked, "According to BJP leaders' logic, Nirmala Sitharaman should resign now, right?"

Responding to this, JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy said, "Why should Nirmala Sitharaman resign? Did the electoral bond funds go into her personal account? Has she misused power and benefited herself like you (Siddaramaiah)?"