JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy addresses a press convention in Bengaluru, March 15, 2024.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
On Sunday, the Election Commission of India disclosed new paperwork itemizing the firms and people who contributed to the Janata Dal (Secular) social gathering in Karnataka earlier than April 12, 2019, via the electoral bond route. The paperwork reveal that these donors contributed a complete of ₹48.75 crore to the social gathering by electoral bonds from March 8, 2018, to April 5, 2019.
Initially, these particulars had been submitted to the Supreme Court in sealed envelopes. The apex courtroom instructed the Commission to make this info obtainable to the general public.
The Commission disclosed particulars of electoral bonds issued after April 12, 2019, final week. After this date, the JD(S) obtained ₹43 crore, though the names of the people donors are but to be launched.
Also Read | ECI makes contemporary electoral bonds information public
The JD(S) is one of some regional events which have revealed the names of those that donated to them via electoral bonds. In 2018, the social gathering had secured ₹1 crore from Infosys Technologies, ₹22 crore from the Embassy Group, ₹25 lakh from Health Care Global Enterprises, and ₹50 lakh from Biocon, the biopharmaceutical firm based by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
In 2019, a contribution of ₹10 crore was made by a Hyderabad-based firm named Megha Engineering and Constructions — distinct from Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL), which is ranked second amongst corporations that bought the very best quantity of electoral bonds (by worth). The social gathering additionally obtained ₹5 crore from JSW Steel Ltd., India’s second largest personal sector metal firm.
The Biocon group donated ₹1 crore once more in 2019, taking their whole tally to 1.5 crore. Shahi Exports Ltd., the biggest attire manufacturing firm in India, additionally donated ₹1.5 crore. Finally, the Aditya Birla group donated ₹50 lakh and Amar Raj Group, ₹2 crore.
