Two NGOs have approached the Supreme Court, seeking a court-monitored investigation into alleged instances of “apparent quid pro quo” involving political parties, corporate entities, and officials of investigative agencies in the electoral bonds scheme. The plea comes after a five-judge Constitution bench scrapped the anonymous political funding scheme introduced by the BJP government.
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New Delhi: Today (14th May): Two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) asked the Supreme Court to conduct a court-monitored probe by a special investigation team into alleged instances of “apparent quid pro quo” within the electoral bonds scheme.
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The scheme is believed to involve political parties, corporate entities, and officials from investigative agencies. The NGOs, namely ‘Common Cause’ and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), have submitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and are seeking an early hearing for their plea.
Lawyer Prashant Bhushan, representing the NGOs, presented their case before a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta. He emphasized the urgency of listing the plea for prompt consideration.
“Regarding this matter, the Chief Justice of India’s office is handling it. It will be scheduled for listing,” Justice Khanna informed Bhushan.
The electoral bonds scheme, which allowed anonymous political funding, was declared unconstitutional by a five-judge Constitution bench on February 15.
In light of this ruling, the NGOs’ plea characterizes the scheme as a “scam” and calls for an investigation into the funding sources of “shell companies and loss-making companies.” These companies have purportedly made donations to various political parties, as revealed by data released by the Election Commission.
The PIL also seeks a directive to authorities to recover funds donated by companies involved in “quid pro quo arrangements,” provided that such funds are found to be proceeds of criminal activities.
The NGOs contend that there is evidence of illicit transactions and a nexus between political parties, corporate entities, and investigative agencies, warranting a thorough investigation by a special investigation team under the court’s supervision.
