Satya Electoral Trust contributed Rs 81.7 crore to national parties

The total donations declared by Satya Electoral Trust to National Parties amounts to Rs 81.87 crores. The Central Government amended the Income Tax Rules, 1962 on the Jan 31, 2013 to insert Rule 17CA which lists the functions of Electoral Trusts approved by the Central Bureau of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

The Central Government, simultaneously, notified ‘The Electoral Trusts Scheme, 2013' which specified the eligibility procedure and format for registration as an Electoral Trust says Association for Democratic Reforms in a report.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had circulated Guidelines for submission of contribution reports of Electoral Trusts on the 6th June, 2014 wherein instructions were issued to all the Electoral Trusts formed after January,'13 (hence approved by the CBDT), to submit an Annual Report containing the following details to the Commission apart from an audit report in the format specified in the amended rules, in the interest of transparency:

These guidelines were issued to 7 Electoral Trusts formed after January, 2013, and included Satya Electoral Trust, Pratinidhi Electoral Trust, People's Electoral Trust, Progressive Electoral Trust, Janhit Electoral Trust, Bajaj Electoral Trust and Janpragati Electoral Trust.

Of the above 7 Trusts, Satya Electoral Trust is the only Trust to submit its complete Annual Report to the ECI. Janhit Electoral Trust, Pratinidhi Electoral Trust and Janpragati Electoral Trust declared nil amounts received as donations during the FY 2013-14.

Contributions received and disbursed by Satya Electoral Trust 2013-14:

According to the rules formulated by the Central Government, Electoral Trusts are required to donate 95% of their total income to registered political parties in a financial year.

Satya Electoral Trust received a total amount of Rs 85.406 crores from corporates and individuals and distributed Rs 85.37 crores (99.96%) to various political parties.

Contribution by corporates:

Bharti Airtel Ltd. contributed the maximum amount of Rs 28 crores which formed 33% of total donations to Satya Electoral Trust followed by DLF Ltd. which donated Rs 20 crores and constituted 23% of total donations.

Akhil Gupta, Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and Executive Chairman of Bharti Infratel Ltd. is the only individual to contribute to political parties through Satya Electoral Trust. He donated Rs 2 crores (2% of total donations to Satya Electoral Trust).

Total contributions as a Group of Companies

The parent companies of all the corporate donors have been termed as Group of companies and is not a part of the submission made by Satya Electoral Trust

As Satya Electoral Trust was set up by the Bharti Enterprises, the parent company donated the maximum amount of Rs 36 crores to be disbursed to political parties and formed 42.16% of total donations to the Electoral Trust.

Donations from other groups of companies include: Jubilant Bhartia Group - Rs 6.38 crores (7.47%); CK Birla Group - Rs 4.003 crores (4.69%); Interglobe enterprises - Rs 4.004 crores (4.69%) and KK Birla Group - Rs 2.002 crores (2.34%).

Donations made by Satya Electoral Trust to Political Parties

BJP, INC and NCP were the three National Parties to which Satya Electoral Trust made contributions.

BJP was the recipient of the maximum amount of Rs 41.37 crores (48.44% of total donations to the Trust) followed by INC with Rs 36.50 crores (42.74% of donations to the Trust).

SAD, RJD and J&KNC are the three Regional Parties to which the Trust made donations. SAD received Rs 2 crores and RJD received Rs 1 crore.

Direct donations made by the corporates to political parties

Apart from the donations by corporates to Satya Electoral Trust, ADR analysed the donations by the same corporates who also donated separately to political parties between FY 2004-05 and 2013-14.

National Engineering Industries Ltd. of C.K.Birla Group donated 5 times to INC and BJP between FY 2004-05 and 2012-13. The company donated a total amount of Rs 87.50 lakhs to BJP and Rs 1.875 crores to INC.

It is to be noted that National Engineering Industries Ltd. donated Rs 1 crore to INC directly and Rs 2 crores to Satya Electoral Trust during FY 2013-14.

GMMCO Ltd. is the only other corporate which donated to Satya Electoral Trust but had also made donations directly to political parties between FY 2004-05 and 2012-13. The company donated an amount of Rs 37.50 lakhs each to INC and BJP during FY 2009-10.

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