Electoral bonds case highlights: RJD, JD(U) trade charges over EB scheme

As an institution, our shoulders are "broad enough", the Supreme Court said on Monday as the Centre flagged social media posts against the court intended to embarrass it after its orders in Electoral Bonds cases.

Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, who was heading a five-judge Constitution bench hearing the electoral bonds case, said once the court delivers a judgement, it becomes nation's property, open for debate.

It said the apex court was only concerned about enforcing the directions given in its February 15 judgement.

In a third tongue-lashing to the State Bank of India, the Supreme Court on Monday told it to stop being "selective" and make "complete disclosure" of all details related to the electoral bonds scheme by March 21.

The apex court said the details to be disclosed include the unique bond numbers that would reveal the link between the buyers and the recipient political parties.

Not ordering disclosure of details of electoral bonds prior to April 12, 2019 was a "conscious choice" by the Constitution bench, the Supreme Court said on Monday while refusing to entertain the submissions of ASSOCHAM and CII against the disclosure of bond details on the ground of their plea not being listed.

Electoral bonds case Live: The Congress on Monday raised questions about the PM CARES Fund, saying that four years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still not clear why it was set up, who its donors are and why its administrative structure is so "lacking in transparency".

Electoral bonds case Live: The DMK, which received most of its donations from a lottery firm, reached out to its donors to seek details of the electoral bonds as demanded by the Supreme Court in 2019.

Electoral bonds case Live: Several political parties declined to share details of electoral bond donors citing various legal provisions, while others said they received the funding instruments through "drop box" or by post without any name.

Electoral bonds case Live: In a stern reprimand directed at the State Bank of India (SBI), the Supreme Court on Monday demanded an end to its "selective" approach and urged for "complete disclosure" of all information about the electoral bonds scheme by March 21.

The apex court said that the disclosed details should encompass the unique bond numbers, which would unveil the connection between the purchasers and the recipient political parties.

Electoral bonds case Live:

Each electoral bond is assigned a unique alphanumeric code. This code, when revealed by the State Bank of India (SBI), will help link donors with the respective recipient parties.

Currently, the SBI has provided data to the Election Commission in two separate categories: donors who purchased bonds and recipients who cashed them. However, the report suggests that the link between them is missing.

Read here: Electoral bonds case: What are unique alpha-numeric numbers that Supreme Court sought from SBI?

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and his arch-rival Lalu Prasad's RJD on Monday traded charges over money received through electoral bonds, accusing each other of corruption.

RJD spokesperson Mrityunjai Tiwari targeted the chief minister's party over reported disclosure to the Election Commission that "a bunch of papers", which turned out to be electoral bonds worth ₹10 crore, were handed over at the JD(U) office here, in April 2019, by an unknown person.

Tiwari said, "The submission makes it clear that while the BJP has itself indulged in corruption through electoral bonds, it has also helped its allies get pecuniary benefits. BJP and JD(U) were in alliance in 2019."

JD(U) chief spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, whose party snapped ties with RJD two months ago, after sharing power for nearly a year and a half, shot back.

He alleged, "The RJD owes an explanation with regard to the discrepancy in data disclosed to before the EC by State Bank of India and figures revealed by the ADR (Association for Democratic Reforms).

Stepping up its attack on the Centre over the electoral bonds issue, the Congress on Monday accused the Modi government of "hafta vasuli" (extortion) and claimed that 21 firms facing investigations from the CBI, ED, or IT have donated through electoral bonds.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that with each passing day, more examples emerge on the true depths of the "electoral bond scam".

"Today, we zoom in on the 'Pradhan Mantri Hafta Vasuli Yojana', the second of the four channels of corruption in the Electoral Bond Scam: 1.Chanda Do, Dhandha Lo 2.Hafta Vasuli," Ramesh said in a post on X.

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose all details to the Election Commission of India which are in its possession, including the Electoral Bonds' unique alphanumeric numbers corresponding to each bond.

A five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked SBI's Chairman to file a compliance affidavit 5 pm of March 21.

The Chairman has to file affidavit indicating that SBI has disclosed all details of Electoral Bonds which were in its possession and custody and no details have been withheld, the court said.

The State Bank of India (SBI) can't be selective in disclosing information linked to electoral bonds, the Supreme Court of India said on Monday, directing the bank to submit full details of the bonds' numbers to the Election Commission by March 21.The apex court also ordered the chairman of the bank to file a compliance affidavit by March 21. Read More

The SC on Monday said that the Election Commission shall upload the details of the electoral bonds case forthwith upon receipt of information from the SBI.

SC has directed SBI to submit details of electoral bond numbers, file compliance affidavit by March 21

I am saying that there is mismatch between the numbers given by the SBI and ECI data. Now the explanation could be that the data is from April 12, Prashant Bhushan said

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Centre told the Supreme Court that the ultimate aim was to curb black money and that the apex Court must be aware of how this judgment is being played outside the court.

Supreme Court has refused to hear unlisted pleas of industry bodies, ASSOCHAM and CII in connection with electoral bonds case.

Major political parties have not disclosed the donors. All that I request is the disclosure of the date should start from the beginning, says Prashant Bhushan.

CJI says, “As an institution, our shoulders are broad enough to deal with social media commentary.. Our intent was disclosure..We are governed by a rule of law...”

CJI asks SBI to file affidavit stating they have not suppressed any information

Electoral bonds case Live Updates: Senior advocate Harish Salve appearing for SBI told the Supreme Court that if the numbers of Electoral Bonds are to be given, they will give it.

Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the SBI and asked it to disclose all information related to electoral bonds case.“'We want all information related to the electoral bonds to be disclosed which is in your possession,” CJI said.

SC hearing on SBI unique number disclosure case has begun.

Electoral bonds case Live Updates: SC will hear the case related to SBI's unique number disclosure in connection with the EB scheme shortly.

Electoral bonds case: On Monday, a constitution bench of the Supreme Court is set to convene to deliberate on the electoral bonds case and determine whether the State Bank of India ought to disclose the unique numbers associated with the bonds. Led by Justice Chandrachud, the five-judge panel has also served a notice to the nation's largest bank, requesting an explanation for its failure to divulge the unique alphanumeric identifiers as per previous directives. This development comes amidst a burgeoning political controversy surrounding the electoral bonds scheme. The bench has scheduled the hearing for the electoral bonds case on March 18. Dig Deeper