BENGALURU: The High Court of Karnataka on Monday ordered an interim stay till October 22, 2024, an FIR filed against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others in a case related to alleged extortion of money from business houses through electoral bonds.
The petition was filed by former state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel, who is a co-accused in the case. An interim stay has also been ordered on the FIR registered against Kateel, who is co-accused in a case alleging that he committed extortion under the guise and garb of electoral bonds. The next hearing is scheduled for October 22.
The high court said, “Permitting investigation, even prima facie, till the statement of objection are filed by respondent, will be abuse of process of law. In that light, I deem it appropriate to interdict further investigation in the matter till the next date of hearing”.
Last Friday, a Bengaluru court had ordered the filing of an FIR against Nirmala Sitharaman and others for allegedly extorting money through electoral bonds. This came in the wake of a petition filed by Adarsh Iyer of Janadhikara Sangharsh Parishad (JSP) to the Special Court of People’s Representatives seeking a direction to take action against the Union Minister.
Following the hearing, the court ordered the Tilak Nagar police station in Bengaluru to register an FIR for the crime of extortion through electoral bonds against the minister and others. (ANI)