Electoral bond data worth over Rs 4,002 crore not been disclosed; Here’s why
The State Bank of India (SBI) has disclosed that it sold 28,030 electoral bonds valued at Rs 16,518 crore since March 2018, as per its responses to Right to Information requests. However, the Election Commission's release of the buyers' list on Thursday only encompasses details for 18,871 bonds amounting to Rs 12,516 crore. The move raised concerns regarding the undisclosed information for 9,159 bonds worth Rs 4,002 crore.
The reason for this gap stems from an oversight acknowledged by the SBI in its submissions to the Supreme Court earlier this week. Despite the court's directive to provide comprehensive details related to the bonds to the Election Commission by March 6, the SBI's plea filed on March 4 only accounted for bonds sold in 22 phases since April 2019.
It initially stated that 22,217 electoral bonds were utilized for political donations between April 12, 2019, and February 15, 2024. However, it later corrected this figure in a compliance affidavit filed on March 12, revealing that only 18,871 bonds were sold during that period. The remaining 3,346 bonds were issued between April 1, 2019, and April 11, 2019.
The SBI's interpretation of the Supreme Court's February 2024 judgment led to the discrepancy in the disclosed data. The court had directed the SBI to submit details of electoral bonds purchased since the interim order dated April 12, 2019.
This interim order mandated the submission of detailed information on electoral bonds issued until May 15, 2019, to the Election Commission in a sealed cover. However, the SBI's interpretation resulted in the exclusion of data for bonds issued between March 1, 2018, and April 12, 2019, creating a gap in the information.
The result is that a part of the data contained in the sealed cover is out, while the rest is not.
The sealed cover data would include information for bonds issued in ten phases between March 1, 2018 and May 15, 2019.
This number comes to 11,681 bonds.
Of this, data for 2,522 bonds issued since April 12, 2019, and May 15, 2019, has been disclosed.
But information for 9,159 bonds issued between March 1, 2018 and April 12, 2019 is still missing. These are bonds worth Rs 4,002 crore.
The Election Commission has not yet released the information contained in the “sealed cover”. This, despite the Supreme Court, in an order on March 11, asking it to “forthwith publish the details of the information which was supplied to this Court in pursuance of the interim orders on its official website”.
This report is part of a collaborative project involving three news organisations – Newslaundry, Scroll, The News Minute – and independent journalists.
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KKR defeat LSG via Super Over
Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
