Individuals, NGOs can buy electoral bonds without public disclosure

The scheme could help entities route black money to political parties through shell companies, experts fear

It isn’t only companies that have been allowed to make anonymous donations to political parties through electoral bonds. The fine print of the scheme announced by the Finance Ministry on Thursday also allows individuals, groups of individuals, NGOs, religious and other trusts, Hindu Undivided Family units and all other entities recognised by law can do so too, without disclosing their identities.

As a result, Indians will not be able to identify which individuals, charitable and religious trusts have even bought the electoral bonds and to whom they have made donations. This is ironic, considering that the Bharatiya Janata Party government