Karnataka Law Minister Urges PM Modi To Address Alleged Electoral Bond Scandal

Karnataka Law Minister H K Patil demanded a response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi concerning an alleged Rs 8000 crore electoral bond scandal involving Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. A Karnataka High Court has issued an interim stay on the FIR filed against Sitharaman until October 22, 2024.

Karnataka Law Minister H K Patil on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond to a controversial Rs 8000 crore electoral bond scandal implicating Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others. The minister labeled the case as a 'scandal,' echoing claims made by the Supreme Court.

"I would like the Prime Minister to react to this Rs 8000 crore scandal which has already surfaced in Karnataka. I am talking about the electoral bonds. It is a scandal which has also been uttered by the Supreme Court," Patil stated. Earlier, the Karnataka High Court imposed a stay until October 22, 2024, on an FIR against Sitharaman, relating to alleged extortion via electoral bonds.

The petition prompting the FIR was lodged by former State BJP President Naleen Kumar Kateel, who is also a co-accused. An interim stay has likewise been placed on the FIR against Kateel, who allegedly extorted funds under the guise of electoral bonds.

The next hearing is set for October 22. The High Court observed that allowing the investigation to proceed before the respondent files their statement of objection could be seen as an abuse of legal process, thus justifying the interim stay.

Previously, a Bengaluru court had directed the filing of an FIR against Sitharaman and others on allegations of money extortion through electoral bonds. The directive followed a petition by Adarsh Iyer of Janadhikar Sangharsh Parishad to the Special Court of People's Representatives, seeking action against the Union Minister.

Post-hearing, the court ordered the Tilak Nagar police station in Bengaluru to register an FIR against the Minister for the extortion charges. (ANI)