Electoral bonds: DMK got

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Sunday revealed fresh data linked to the electoral bonds scheme. The poll body had submitted these details in sealed covers to the Supreme Court and was later ordered to make the data public. Per the fresh details, MK Stalin-led DMK received ₹656.5 crore through electoral bonds, including those purchased by Santiago Martin’s lottery-selling firm, Future Gaming company.
“Data so received from political parties was deposited in the Supreme Court without opening sealed covers. In pursuance of the Supreme Court’s order dated March 15, 2024, the Registry of the Supreme Court has returned physical copies along with a digitized record of the same in a pen drive in sealed cover. The Election Commission of India has today uploaded the data received in the digitized form from the registry of the Supreme Court on electoral bonds on its website,” EC said in a statement.
DMK received 77 percent of its total proceeds from the firm owned by Martin, who has been under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate.
Also read: Electoral bonds: Who is ‘Lottery King’ Santiago Martin, whose firm donated ₹1368 crore?
On Thursday, the Election Commission released the first list of entities and individuals who purchased electoral bonds to make political donations.
Future Gaming and Hotel Services Private Limited, which is run by Santiago Martin, commonly known as “Lottery King”, emerged as the largest donor. The firm has donated ₹1368 crore between 2019 and 2024.
Last month, the Supreme Court of India scrapped the electoral bonds scheme, calling it unconstitutional.
With inputs from PTI