P Radhakrishnan was the Minister of State for Finance back then
The Congress on Monday alleged that the Modi government had overruled the RBI to introduce electoral bonds to enable "black money to enter the BJP coffers" and demanded that the scheme be scrapped.
"RTI reveals how 'electoral bonds' became instruments of anonymous donations bordering on opaque 'money laundering'," Surjewala said in a tweet.
State-owned lender turns down the application of Right To Information activist, says information is personal.
Last month, the Election Commission had written to all recognised political parties to comply with the Supreme Court directives
The government, however, did not give any reason for reducing the time period for sale of electoral bonds
Electoral bond is like a promissory note that can be bought by any Indian citizen or company incorporated in India from select branches of State Bank of India
99 per cent of donations received by political parties between March 2018 and January 24, 2019 were as electoral bonds of Rs 10 lakh and Rs one crore.
The Supreme Court on Friday directed all political parties to furnish receipts of political funding received through electoral bonds
The Supreme Court has directed all political parties to furnish receipts of electoral bonds and details of identity of donors in a sealer cover to the Election Commission
The Supreme Court said that the issue of electoral bonds requires detailed hearing and so it will announce the date for final hearing later
AG's comments came during the hearing on pleas challenging the validity of electoral bonds and their usage for political funding
The govt had in 2018 brought in the electoral bond scheme as an alternative to cash donations made to political parties as part of its efforts to bring transparency in political funding
Govt in its fresh affidavit said that the massive amount of political donations were earlier made in cash by individuals or corporates using "illicit means of funding" under the old system
The Centre had said the electoral bonds were introduced on January 2, 2018 to promote transparency
The sale of electoral bonds opens in the SBI branches when Finance Ministry issues notification of the sale for a given period.
EC submits affidavit in Supreme Court, says electoral bonds will impact transparency of political funding
Nearly 40 per cent of total funds mopped through electoral bonds came in October
SBI is the only authorised bank to issue such bonds. A person being an individual can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly, with other individuals
SBI refuses to disclose details of political parties which received donations through electoral bonds, claims RTI