THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, March 13: The State Bank of India (SBI) informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that political parties purchased 22,217 electoral bonds and redeemed 22,030 of them between April 1, 2019, and February 15, 2024.
The State Bank of India (SBI) stated in a compliance affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court that it adhered with the court’s directive and provided the Election Commission of India with the electoral bond data prior to the end of business hours on March 12.
It stated that information has been provided, including the date each electoral bond was purchased, the buyer’s name, and the denomination of the bonds bought.
Also Read- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s nod to NCC expansion
According to the affidavit, which was submitted by SBI Chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara, the bank also provided the EC with information such as the bond denominations, the names of the political parties that received the contributions, and the date on which the electoral bonds were encashed.
A five-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, on March 11, rejected SBI’s request for a deadline extension and instructed it to reveal the specifics of electoral bonds to the EC by the end of business hours on March 12.
The EC was also ordered by the Supreme Court to post the information provided by the bank on its official website by 5 pm on March 15.
