Karnataka HC Stays FIR Against Sitharaman, BJP Leaders

The Karnataka High Court has issued an interim stay on the investigation into Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and former Karnataka BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel, among others, regarding allegations of extortion linked to the electoral bonds scheme. The court found that the complaint did not meet the prima facie requirements for extortion under Section 383 of the IPC, noting that the complainant was not an aggrieved party. The decision halts further proceedings until the next hearing on October 22, 2024. Meanwhile, the Congress has called for Sitharaman’s resignation and a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry into the scheme, alleging systemic corruption and misuse of the bonds for extortion. This political turmoil underscores the contentious nature of the electoral bonds scheme and its impact on democratic processes.