22,217 Electoral Bonds Purchased: SBI Tells In Compliance Affidavit To SC After Submitting Data To ECI

The State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara files affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that the direction to disclose the Electoral Bonds data to the ECI has been complied with.

The State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that the direction to disclose the Electoral Bonds data to the ECI has been complied with. The SBI has handed over files with details of the purchasers, the date of purchase and the denomination of the bond. It has also handed over a second file to the ECI with details of political parties which encashed the bonds.

"The SBI has ready records in which the date of purchase, denomination and name of buyer were recorded, and (in relation to the political parties) the date of encashment and the denomination of the bonds encashed were recorded," the letter stated.

He further wrote that in respectful compliance with the aforesaid directions, before the close of business hours on March 12, 2024 a record of this information was made available to the Election Commission Of India (ECI) by hand delivering in digital form (Password protected).

As per the directions of the Supreme Court, "the date of purchase of each electoral bond, the name of the purchaser and the denomination of the Electoral Bond purchased has been furnished," the letter said.

It further said that the date of encashment of the electoral bonds, the name of political parties who have received the contributions and denomination of the said bonds has also been furnished.

According to the SBI's affidavit a total of 22,217 bonds were purchased out of which 22,030 were redeemed. 

The affidavit states that a combined reading of the judgment dated February 15 and March 11, it becomes clear that the SBI was asked to supply:

a) SBI shall submit details of the Electoral Bonds purchased since the interim order of the top court dated April 12, 2019 till date to the ECI. The details shall include the date of purchase of each Electoral Bond, the name and purchaser of the bond and the denomination of the Electoral Bonds purchased.

b) SBI shall submit the details of political parties which have received contributions through Electoral Bonds since the interim order of this court dated April 2019 till date to ECI. SBI must disclose details of each Electoral Bond encashed by political parties which shall include the date of encashment and denomination of the Electoral Bonds.

The top court has directed the ECI to make this data public on March 15.