Infosys, Biocon, JSW Steel, Shahi Exports donated to JD(S) via electoral bonds

On Sunday, the Election Commission of India disclosed new documents listing the corporations and individuals who contributed to the Janata Dal (Secular) party in Karnataka before April 12, 2019, via the electoral bond route. The documents reveal that these donors contributed a total of ₹48.75 crore to the party through electoral bonds from March 8, 2018, to April 5, 2019.

Initially, these details were submitted to the Supreme Court in sealed envelopes. The apex court instructed the Commission to make this information available to the public.

Watch | Electoral bonds: Who were the biggest donors?

The Commission disclosed details of electoral bonds issued after April 12, 2019, last week. After this date, the JD(S) received ₹43 crore, although the names of the individuals donors are yet to be released.

Also Read | ECI makes fresh electoral bonds data public

The JD(S) is one of a few regional parties that have revealed the names of those who donated to them via electoral bonds. In 2018, the party had secured ₹1 crore from Infosys Technologies, ₹22 crore from the Embassy Group, ₹25 lakh from Health Care Global Enterprises, and ₹50 lakh from Biocon, the biopharmaceutical company founded by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.

Notably, according to media reports, the Embassy group — the biggest donor to JD(S) — was part of a consortium that emerged as the sole bidder of Bengaluru’s controversial pod taxi project in January 2018. It also signed an MoU with the Karnataka Government in March 2019 “for the all-round development of children in Bangalore,” according to the company’s website. 

Electoral bonds data | Full list of donors and recipient political parties

In 2019, a contribution of ₹10 crore was made by a Hyderabad-based company named Megha Engineering and Constructions — distinct from Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL), which is ranked second among companies that purchased the highest amount of electoral bonds (by value). The party also received ₹5 crore from JSW Steel Ltd., India’s second largest private sector steel company.

The Biocon group donated ₹1 crore again in 2019, taking their total tally to 1.5 crore. Shahi Exports Ltd., the largest apparel manufacturing company in India, also donated ₹1.5 crore. Finally, the Aditya Birla group donated ₹50 lakh and Amar Raj Group, ₹2 crore.

In May 2019, the Karnataka government decided to execute a lease-cum-sale agreement with JSW Steel Ltd, pertaining to 3,666 acres of land allotted to the company in 2006-07. The JSW had paid for the land at the guidance rate at the time and was asked to pay the difference from the current rate at the time.