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The five Judge Constitutional Bench in its verdict dated 15th February 2024 had directed the State Bank of India to furnish the information of the purchasers of the Electoral Bond and the beneficiary – political parties since April 2019 to the Election Commission by 6th March 2014.
On 5th March, the State Bank of India has sought time till 30th June to comply with the direction of the apex court to furnish the details to Election Commission.
The move of the State Bank of India has evoked severe comments from the opposition parties.
Travesty of Justice
Association for Democratic Reforms: (Chief Petitioner)
“…..The data are obviously in digital format. Taking four months to collect data from different states and locations is really too much during these days of technological advancement”
Anjali Bharadwaj: (RTI activist) Member, Board of ‘Common Cause’:
“Donor names and redemption details are now available in SBI’s Mumbai Branch in sealed cover as per their affidavit. Why is SBI not disclosing these immediately?”
Rahul Gandhi (Congress Party): “When the Supreme Court has said that it is the right of the countrymen to know the truth about electoral bonds, why SBI does not want this information to be made public before the elections?”
Sitaram Yechury: Communist Party of India (Marxist):
“Is the SBI’s extension only to shield the government?”
Saket Gokhale: (Trinamool Congress):
“This is ‘Modi Ka Parivaar’ working overtime to hide the large-scale corruption by him and the BJP”.
