“Electoral Bonds’ Quid Pro Quo: NGOs Petition Supreme Court for SIT Investigation”

Two non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) and Common Cause, have filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged instances of “quid pro quo” between political parties and their donors through electoral bonds. This move comes over two months after the Supreme Court declared the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional.

The petition, represented by Senior Advocate Prashant Bhushan for the NGOs, highlights a potential scam involving crores of rupees in the electoral bonds matter. It argues that data from the Election Commission reveals possible quid pro quo arrangements between large corporations and political entities over the past six years through electoral bonds. The petitioners allege that private companies may have made payments either as protection money or as bribes to gain undue benefits from political parties.

Key Points from the Petition:

1. Monitoring by the Supreme Court: The petition requests that the proposed SIT inquiry be monitored directly by the Supreme Court to ensure transparency and impartiality.
2. Data Disclosure: The data shared by the State Bank of India (SBI) with the Election Commission reportedly shows instances where ruling parties may have altered policies or laws to favor private corporations, potentially at the expense of public interest and the national treasury.
3. Donations from Loss-Making Companies: The petitioners also note significant donations from “loss-making companies” and “shell firms,” raising concerns about the source and legitimacy of these funds.

The petition seeks directions for authorities to recover any amounts donated as part of quid pro quo arrangements if they are found to be linked to criminal activities. It is important to note that the government has consistently denied the opposition’s accusations of quid pro quo in relation to the electoral bonds scheme.

The electoral bonds scheme was introduced by the Narendra Modi government in January 2018. However, it was declared unconstitutional by a Chief Justice DY Chandrachud-led Constitution bench on February 15, 2024, citing concerns about transparency and accountability in political funding.

Sources By Agencies