Supreme Court Rejects Pleas for Probe into Electoral Bonds Scheme

The Supreme Court dismissed requests for a court-monitored investigation into the electoral bonds scheme, citing premature and inappropriate grounds for such a probe. The bench emphasized that remedies under existing criminal law procedures had not been utilized, and thus any judicial inquiry would be inappropriate at this stage.

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed multiple pleas seeking a court-monitored investigation into the controversial electoral bonds scheme. Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice JB Pardiwala deemed it 'premature' and 'inappropriate' to order any inquiry without exhausting available legal remedies.

The court highlighted that assumptions of quid pro quo arrangements in the purchase of electoral bonds cannot justify a roving inquiry. Remedies pertaining to statutory functions under the Income Tax Act cannot be bypassed, the bench stated.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan and senior advocate Vijay Hansaria argued that evidence pointed to shady deals and inappropriate donations under the electoral bonds scheme. However, the court maintained that any directions at this stage would be premature.