Karnataka High Court Halts Probe Against Finance Minister Sitharaman in Extortion Case

The Karnataka High Court has placed a temporary hold on the investigation of an FIR involving Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in an extortion case related to the now-defunct electoral bonds scheme. The interim order was issued following a petition by BJP leader Nalin Kumar Kateel.

The Karnataka High Court on Monday issued a stay on the investigation into an FIR against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others in connection with an extortion case tied to the defunct electoral bonds scheme.

Justice M Nagaprasanna granted the interim order on a plea filed by BJP leader Nalin Kumar Kateel, the fourth accused in the FIR.

The Bengaluru city police had registered the FIR on September 28 following a magistrate court's directive in response to a private complaint by Adarsh R Iyer, co-president of the Janaadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath (JSP). The FIR invoked IPC sections 384 (extortion), 120B (criminal conspiracy), and 34 (common intention) against various officials, including Sitharaman.

(With inputs from agencies.)