Supreme Court Rejects Plea for SIT Probe into Electoral Bonds Donations Controversy

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, dismissed petitions seeking a Special Investigation Team probe into alleged quid pro quo arrangements between corporates and political parties via Electoral Bonds donations, citing the need for existing legal remedies to be exhausted first.

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a series of petitions requesting an investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the alleged quid pro quo arrangements between corporates and political parties through Electoral Bonds donations. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra stated that an SIT headed by a former judge should not be constituted when legal remedies under existing criminal procedures have not been pursued.

The bench emphasized that without utilizing the available legal channels, intervening under Article 32 would be premature and inappropriate. The court also declined the appeal to direct authorities to reclaim donations received by political parties through Electoral Bonds and to reopen their income tax assessments, arguing that this would imply conclusions on factual matters prematurely.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing one of the petitioners, argued there was a 'quid pro quo' between corporates buying the bonds and political parties receiving the donations. The court, however, insisted that established legal avenues like lodging an FIR or filing a private complaint should be first followed. The petitions, filed by NGOs Common Cause and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), called for a thorough investigation of contributions to political parties, alleging a scam involving millions. The Supreme Court had previously quashed the Electoral Bonds scheme, stating it allowed anonymous funding detrimental to transparency. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)