'BJP Got Rs 335 Cr From Firms Facing ED, CBI, I-T Probe Via Electoral Bonds': Congress Seeks SC Monitored Probe

Congress's KC Venugopal has written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman saying that between 2018 to 2022, around 30 private companies who faced ED, I-T and CBI investigations have donated around Rs 335 crores to the BJP

The Congress on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government of blackmailing corporates through central investigation agencies to receive funds through the now scrapped electoral bonds scheme. Citing data from the Election Commission of India (ECI), the party slammed the BJP government for allegedly obtaining favour from corporates to grant them relief in investigations by the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department.

Congress's KC Venugopal has written to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman saying that between 2018 to 2022, around 30 private companies who faced ED, I-T and CBI investigations have donated around Rs 335 crores to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Saying that all this information is available on the Election Commission of India's website, the Congress accused BJP of extorting "security money" from these companies.

The Congress has alleged that many of these 30 companies did not pay funds to the BJP before 2018. After 2018, the companies that donated to the Congress have stopped after 2018.

The Congress alleged that the BJP took donations from these 30 companies by scaring and blackmailing them with central investigation agencies like CBI and ED.

The Congress asked the finance minister if she will bring a "White paper" on extortion of money in the form of electoral bonds from these companies. It further asked if BJP will explain funds worth Rs 335 crore that were received by the party from the companies that were under CBI, ED and I-T probe.

The Congress also sought a Supreme Court monitored enquiry into the allegations of "quid-pro-quo" against BJP.

The Congress said that on one hand the BJP is targetting it through the income tax department and on other hand it has indulged practices of "quid-pro-quo" through the Electoral Bonds scheme.

The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment earlier this month held the Electoral Bond scheme as unconstitutional and violative of fundamental Right to Information under Article 19 (a). The SC had asked the ECI to furnish the data on its website.