Electoral bonds case: K’taka HC orders interim stay on FIR against FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], September 30 (ANI): The Karnataka High Court on Monday ordered an interim stay till October 22, 2024, on an FIR filed against Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others in a case related to alleged extortion of money through electoral bonds.
The petition was filed by former State BJP President Naleen Kumar Kateel, who is co-accused in the case.
An Interim stay has also been issued into the FIR registered against the then Karnataka BJP Chief Naleen Kumar 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."
Earlier on 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 Janadhikar 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. (ANI)