FIR against FM Sitharaman over election bail appeal alleging ‘criminal conspiracy and extortion’

Iyer has alleged that Sitharaman and ED officials “committed extortion under the guise and garb of electoral bonds, thereby reaping benefits to the tune of Rs 8,000 crore and more”. He alleged that the “extortion” was committed in connivance with Nadda, Kateel, Vijayendra and other party office-bearers at the state and national levels.

He also alleged that Sitharaman used the ED to “carry out raids, seizures and arrests of various companies, their CEOs, managing directors etc”.

“Fearing the raids, many corporates and moneybags were coerced and persuaded to buy electoral bonds worth crores redeemed by Nadda, Kateel, Vijayendra and others. “The entire blackmail under the guise of election guarantees was orchestrated hand in hand with BJP functionaries at various levels,” Iyer alleged.

In one case, the complaint said that Sterlite and Vedanta Company headed by Anil Agarwal were victims of raids by the ED on several occasions. Accordingly, Anil had to purchase electoral bonds worth Rs 230.15 Crores in April 2019, August 2022 and November 2023. Documents analyzing the electoral bonds purchased in favor of the BJP and details of ED raids were presented in the complaint.

The complaint also mentions the case of another company, Aurobindo Pharma, which was also a victim of raids, seizures and arrests by the ED officials. The complaint further states that the Aurobindo Pharma group of companies purchased electoral bonds worth Rs 49.5 crore during the raids on January 5, 2023, July 2, 2022, November 15, 2022 and November 8, 2023.

The complainant had first approached the concerned Tilaknagar police station with a complaint on March 30, 2024 and then contacted DCP Bengaluru South East in April 2024.