ED and CBI probe multiple companies' election bond donations; Opposition demands investigation

NEW DELHI: There are more than 15 companies that have been investigated by agencies like ED and CBI among those who donated to political parties through election bonds. These are the companies which are subject to seizure of assets by the Income Tax Department. Controversial lottery tycoon Santiago Martin's Future Gaming and Hotel Services bought 1368 crore bonds.

ED raided Martin's house in Chennai in May 2023. Property worth 410 crores confiscated in a lottery case. Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd., which bought the Rs 966 crore bond, was part of the Sojila tunnel project in Kashmir.

The allegation that the companies bought the bonds after the ED raid is just speculation.

- Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister

A thorough investigation into the bonds should be ordered. Accounts of BJP should be frozen.

- Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress President

Major companies that faced investigation

1. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd

2. Haldia Energy Limited

3. Vedanta Limited

4. Yashoda Super Specialty Hospital

5. DLF Commercial Developers Limited

6. Jindal Steel and Power Ltd

7. Chennai Greenwoods Private Limited

8. Aurobindo Pharma

Top five companies that bought bond

1. Future Gaming and Hotel Services - 1368 Cr

2. Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited - 966 crores

3. Qwik Supply Chain Pvt Ltd - 410 crores

4. Vedanta Limited - 400 crores

5. Haldia Energy Limited - 377 crores

Top five parties

1. BJP - 6060.51 crore (47.46%)

2. Trinamool Congress - 1609.53 crores (12.60%)

3. Congress - 1421.87 crore (11.14%)

4. BRS - 1214.71 crore (9.51%)

5. Biju Janata Dal - 775.5 crores (6.07%)