Madras High Court Petition Demands CBI Investigation Into BJP's NaMo App Fundraising
A journalist based in Chennai has formally approached the Madras High Court, filing a petition that requests a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its former national president, J P Nadda. The legal action centers on allegations concerning the 'micro-donation online scandal' associated with the NaMo App.
Core Allegations: Transparency and Misrepresentation of Funds
The petitioner, identified as B R Aravindakshan, has raised serious questions about the transparency of donations processed through the political party's application. According to the filed plea, donors were not clearly informed whether their financial contributions, ostensibly directed toward government schemes like Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, or Kisan Seva, actually reached any official government accounts designated for these programs.
Instead, all contributions were allegedly treated exclusively as party funds. This practice, the petitioner contends, could potentially constitute legal offenses such as cheating and criminal breach of trust, as it misleads citizens about the ultimate destination and purpose of their donated money.
Historical Context: The 2021-2022 Micro-Donation Campaign
The petition references a specific public announcement made by J P Nadda, who was then serving as the national president of the BJP. On December 25, 2021, Nadda launched a special micro-donation campaign via the NaMo App, framing it as a tribute to significant figures in the party's history.
The campaign was scheduled to run from December 25, 2021—the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee—to February 11, 2022, which marks the Punya Tithi of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. During this period, the public was appealed to make micro-donations that would 'empower the party, which always puts India first.'
"Citizens, including myself, were induced to donate through the app on the express appeal of the Prime Minister and the president of BJP, with the unmistakable impression that contributions were being made both to the BJP and to Union government schemes like Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Kisan Seva," the petitioner stated in the court documents.
National Ramifications and Integrity Concerns
Arguing that the issue holds national significance, the petitioner emphasized that there appears to be "a pointer of large-scale misrepresentation to all the citizens across India who donated in good faith, believing they were supporting Union government welfare schemes."
The plea further highlights that this matter directly "concerns the integrity and dignity of the office of the Prime Minister," suggesting that the alleged misrepresentation could undermine public trust in the highest levels of government.
Legal Proceedings and Scope of the Investigation
In addition to seeking action against the BJP and J P Nadda, the petitioner has requested that the CBI probe also extend to Amit Malviya, who serves as the chief complaints officer of the NaMo App. The petition calls for the court to issue directives compelling the involved parties to produce a complete and detailed account of all funds collected through the application to date.
The plea is anticipated to be listed for hearing before the first bench of the Madras High Court, which is headed by Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari. The hearing is likely to commence on Monday, marking a critical step in addressing these allegations of financial misrepresentation and potential legal violations in political fundraising practices.
