New Delhi – The Supreme Court conducted a significant hearing on the election bond donation case on Friday, dismissing pleas that sought a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into alleged collusion between corporates and political parties through electoral bond donations.
Earlier this year, in February, the Supreme Court had annulled the Electoral Bond Scheme and directed the State Bank to cease issuing these bonds immediately. The Electoral Bond Scheme, which allowed anonymous political donations, was criticized for lacking transparency.
The case was reviewed by a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Mishra. The bench ruled that the petition did not meet the current legal standards for acceptance. It advised the petitioner to file a complaint with the relevant agency and, if necessary, approach the High Court if no investigation ensues.
The petition, filed by the NGO Common Cause, alleged that the scheme facilitated a significant financial scam, claiming that companies received substantial profits in exchange for their donations. The NGO had requested an SIT investigation under court supervision to address these concerns.