An investigation by the EC, carried out with the help of the I-T department, has found that both the parties had received about Rs 5 crore each from two subsidiaries of the Vedanta group-- Sterlite Industries and the Sesa Goa group.
The donation, prima facie, violates section 29 B of the Representation of the People Act which states that "no political party shall be eligible to accept any contribution from any foreign source defined under clause (e) of Section 2 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 1976," official sources said.
The entire transaction, the EC has said in its complaint to the Home Ministry, should be investigated and probed under the FCRA as they have been made by the firms, which are part of the UK-based group, that makes them a "foreign source".
Vedanta Resources, according to its annual report of 2011-12, had paid USD 5.69 million (about Rs 28 crore) to political parties in India in last three years.
Without disclosing the identity of the beneficiaries, billionaire Anil Agarwal-promoted Vedanta has stated on the report that it paid USD 2.01 million to political parties during 2011-12.
While there were no no comments available from BJP, Congress sources denied it had received any "foreign" donation. The sources said Congress had received from Sterlite Industries, India, a donation of Rs. 5 crore in 2009. (More)PTI NES
VSC