Supreme Court Rejects Plea For Probe Into 'Quid Pro Quo' In Electoral Bond Scheme

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a bench of pleas seeking a probe into alleged instances of 'quid pro quo' between corporates and political parties in relation to electoral bonds donations.

"We decline to exercise our jurisdiction under Article 32 of the Constitution," dimssing the plea, a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra ordered as per Bar and Bench website.

The Court initially noted that, at the time of purchasing the electoral bonds, there was a statutory enactment by Parliament allowing such purchases and donations to political parties. It further observed that, at this stage, any claims of quid pro quo behind these donations were merely assumptions.

"The petitions are founded on two assumptions that there was a quid pro quo in cases where there was award of contract or change in policy and that certain officials of investigative agency was involved and thereby probe by normal process of law will not be fair or independent. We have highlighted underlying premise of submissions to indicate that these are assumptions at the present stage and would require court to enter into roving inquiry into purchase of electoral bonds, donations made to political parties and arrangements made in nature of quid pro quo."

The Court stated that individuals with grievances should seek the proper legal remedies. It added that if an investigation is refused or a closure report is filed, appropriate actions can be taken under the law governing criminal procedure or under Article 226.

Introduced by the BJP in 2018, the electoral bond scheme was promoted by the government as a step towards transparency in election funding. The scheme allowed individuals and companies to donate money to political parties anonymously.