The Election Commission of India (ECI) has finally disclosed the long-awaited information on electoral bonds provided by (SBI) State Bank of India following the Supreme Court's order. The purchase details of electoral bonds, ranged from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1 crore, since 2019.
The Election Commission stated that it has "consistently and categorically weighed in favour of disclosure and transparency, a position reflected in the proceedings of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and noted in the order also". Top parties like BJP, Congress, AIADMK, BRS, Shiv Sena, YSR Congress, and more have redeemed electoral bonds.
Here is the list of top 10 donors as per the data revealed by SBI
1. Future Gaming and Hotel Services PR - Rs 1,368 crore
The company was established in 1991 under the name Martin Lottery Agencies Limited. Led by Santiago Martin, also known as the 'Lottery King' of India the company has remained under ED's radar.
2. Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd - Rs 966 crore
The MEIL group is owned by P.P. Reddy, who established Megha Engineering Enterprises in 1989. Based in Telangana, the company made its first donation in April 2019, with its most recent contribution occurring in October 2023.
3. Qwik Supply Chain Pvt Ltd - Rs 410 crore
Qwik Supply Chain Private Limited was established on November 9, 2000. As per reports, the company has links with the Reliance group and first initiated its bond purchases on January 5, 2022.
4. Vedanta Ltd - Rs 400 crore
The conglomerate owned by Anil Aggarwal, already grappling with financial challenges, also emerged as a major purchaser of the electoral bonds
5. Haldia Energy Ltd - Rs 377 crore
Haldia Energy Limited, a subsidiary of the prominent RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, is a coal-based thermal power plant located at Jhikurkhali village near Haldia town.
Other donors listed in the data released by the ECI included-
6. Bharti Group
7. Essel Mining & Industries Ltd
8. Western UP Power Transmission Company Ltd
9. Keventer Foodpark Infra Ltd
10. Madanlal Ltd
