The Election Commission of India complied with the Supreme Court’s directive by publishing electoral bonds data on its official website on March 14. The data reveals that donors are identified solely by the names of companies or individuals.
According to the released data, 1,260 companies and individuals collectively purchased electoral bonds amounting to ₹12,769 crore. Among them, the top 20 companies contributed ₹5,945 crore, which represents nearly half of the total donations made through electoral bonds.
The Election Commission reiterated its commitment to transparency and disclosure, aligning with the stance taken by the Supreme Court, as reflected in its proceedings and orders.
These are Top 10 leading contributors to political parties:
Future Gaming and Hotel Services, led by lottery magnate Santiago Martin, emerged as the primary purchaser of electoral bonds, amounting to Rs 1,368, according to data released by the Election Commission of India. Future Gaming, based in Coimbatore, is recognized as one of India’s largest lottery companies, founded by Santiago Martin.
Megha Engineering Infrastructure Limited contributed Rs 966 crores, while Qwik Supply Chain Private Limited, Haldia Energy Limited, Vedanta Limited, and Bharti Airtel Limited made significant donations as well.
Moreover, there are the list of top 10 leading individuals 
Major political parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, AIADMK, Trinamool Congress, and others have benefited from these contributions. The Election Commission provided details of electoral bond transactions, obtained from the State Bank of India, revealing Future Gaming and Hotel Services and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd as leading donors.
The Commission emphasized its commitment to transparency, citing Supreme Court directives, and detailed the purchase and encashment of electoral bonds. SBI furnished data on bond transactions between April 12, 2019, and February 15, 2024, totaling 22,217 bonds purchased during this period.
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court invalidated the electoral bond scheme and related amendments, requiring SBI to disclose details of each bond encashed by political parties, including the date and denomination. Electoral bonds, akin to promissory notes, were issued for contributions to political parties, purchasable from specific SBI branches in various denominations.
Legal challenges against amendments allowing unchecked political funding were filed, asserting concerns over potential misuse of the Finance Act 2017 and Finance Act 2016.
