NALEEN KUMAR KATEEL Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner, a former Member of Parliament and State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party ('BJP' for short) is knocking at the doors of this Court calling in question registration of a crime in Crime No.224 of 2024 arising out of PCR No.4880 of 2024 registered for offences punishable under Ss. 384, 120B and 34 of the IPC.

(2.) Shorn of unnecessary details, facts germane are as follows:-

(3.) What is aforesaid is described in the complaint to be extortion racket under the garb of electoral bonds. Three illustrations of M/s Sterlite, M/s Vedanta Company and M/s Aurobindo Pharma are quoted in the complaint. The issue of electoral bonds became subject matter of proceedings before the Apex Court as constitutional validity of the Scheme was questioned in Writ Petition 880 of 2017 and connected cases. The amendments brought into the RBI Act were held to be unconstitutional and several directions were issued by the Apex Court in its judgment rendered on 15/2/2024. The complaint broadly bases its foundation upon observations of the Apex Court. The complaint is registered on 15/4/2024.