The Election Commission of India (ECI), on Thursday evening, informed that it had uploaded the data on electoral bonds on its website as received from SBI on “as is where is basis” in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions.
In a press note, the poll panel said, “In compliance of Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directions, contained in its order dated Feb 15 & March 11, 2024 (in the matter of WPC NO.880 of 2017), the State Bank of India (SBI) had provided the data pertaining to the electoral bonds to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 12, 2024.”
“The Election Commission of India has today uploaded the data on electoral bonds on its website as received from SBI on “as is where is basis”. The data as received from SBI can be accessed at this url:https://www.eci.gov.in/candidate-politicalparty,” it said.
“It may be recalled that in the said matter, ECI 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,” the press note added.
The chairman of SBI filed an affidavit in the apex court on Wednesday apprising that in compliance with its order, the date of purchase of each electoral bond, the name of the purchaser and the denomination of the electoral bond purchased has been furnished to the Election Commission of India.
SBI Chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara, in the affidavit, told the top court that the bank has also furnished the details to the Election Commission regarding the date of encashment of the electoral bonds, the name of political parties who have received the contributions and the denomination of the said bonds.
The SBI said the data has been furnished in respect of bonds purchased and redeemed between April 12, 2019 and February 15, 2024.
A total of 22,217 bonds were purchased during the period April 1, 2019 till February 15, 2024, SBI told the Supreme Court.
“From April 1 to 11, 2019, the total number of electoral bonds purchased were 3,346 and the total number of bonds redeemed were 1,609,” the affidavit stated.
The SBI further told the apex court that from April 12, 2019 to February 15, 2024, the total number of electoral bonds purchased was 18,871 and total number of bonds redeemed were 20,421.
The affidavit was filed in compliance with the top court’s direction to the bank to furnish the data of electoral bonds to the poll panel by March 12.
A Constitution bench of the top court had warned the SBI of contempt of court proceedings against it for wilfully disobeying its order in the event of non-compliance with the latest directions.