Highlights: India: Election Commission publishes list of companies that financed political parties. This follows an order from the Supreme Court, which abolished this opaque mechanism. The companies which finance the most Indian political parties over the last five years have one thing in common. They did it just after being raided by the federal police or the tax authorities. The largest donor, for example, a leader in gambling, purchased 11 million euros of electoral bonds, five days after the police seized part of his bank accounts. “We do not yet know where this money went, but it is very likely that it was given to the ruling BJP party,” said Jagdeep Chhokar, director of the Association for Democratic Reform.

In India, a few weeks before the legislative elections, the Elections Commission has just published for the first time, on the evening of Thursday March 14, the list of companies that financed the…

India: Election Commission publishes list of companies that financed political parties

In India, a few weeks before the legislative elections, the Elections Commission has just published for the first time, Thursday March 14 in the evening, the list of companies which have financed political parties over the last five years, through a system of electoral obligations.

This follows an order from the Supreme Court, which abolished this opaque mechanism, and reveals doubtful situations.

The Indian Supreme Court, in New Delhi, in October 2023. (Illustrative image).

By: RFI Follow

India

, it is a small revolution in the political world.

The list of companies that financed political parties was published by

the Elections Commission

A lottery company, pharmaceutical companies or public works companies, the companies which finance the most Indian political parties over the last five years have one thing in common.

They did it just after being raided by the federal police or the tax authorities.

The largest donor, for example, a leader in gambling, purchased 11 million euros of electoral bonds, five days after the police seized part of his bank accounts.

“

We do not yet know where this money went, but it is very likely that it was given to the ruling BJP party

,” said Jagdeep Chhokar, director of the Association for Democratic Reform.

A way to launder dirty money

For businesses, these donations can be a way to regain access to their accounts, or prevent other funds from being seized.

If the existence of a hidden link between companies and political parties was already suspected, this clearly reveals them, and provides proof.

Some companies donated amounts equivalent to 10 or 100 times their profits.

We therefore do not know where this money actually comes from.

And this indicates that this system of anonymous political financing,

now abolished

, was also used as a way of laundering dirty money.

Read alsoIndia: the selection process of the powerful Election Commission contested

India: Election Commission publishes list of companies that financed political parties

India: Election Commission publishes list of companies that financed political parties

A way to launder dirty money

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